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UNITED STATE^
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IN TH£ SUMMER pf
1794.
^^^ V
iSmbdUftnA vrlth the Fro^ of Os»sii4t WAftviicol
aad an A^ua^tiAta VieW of the STATs-lftooaS|
at Philadelphia^^ '
A*'
,i
By HENRY WANSEY, P^ A.S.
SECOND EDITION wztr ADDITI01(S»
'* Nothing extenuate, nor Tet down aught in
PRmtED AND SOLD BY J. EAB^k j^ "^
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SBEaBBHP
PREFACE.
XT may, perhaps, appear extraordiiuoy to
fome of m^ Readers^ how I couM coUeft
fo many materials in fo (hort a time. To
this I anfwer, that, in contemplation -of
this Journey, I furnifhed my felf with much
preparatory knowledge refpeQing the tra^
through which I intended to pafs— both
by converfing with American gentTemel^»
and reading Morfe's Geography^ firiflbt^
JefFerfon, Mather, and other authors.
At the fame time, I entered in a fmalt
paper book, queries and memorandums
- a 2 . of
IV
PREFACE.
of f&ch fhtnga a» I fnceikk^ t& enquire
after I wad, by the knowledge of flion-
hand, I was enabled to make minutes as I
travelled along, in another little wade hooky
even while I was in the ftage, which I co-
pied out every night. — This has, however,
in fome meafure, by dating fa6ls juft as^
they occurred at the time, occafioned ir-
regularity, and fome differences in fenti-^,
ment. — In thefe cafes, the laft (latement
is, probably, the trued, as it mud be the
refult of more experience. ^ ^
If it gives my Friends at whofe requeft
I pubUib my Journal, thepleafure and
Infonaanon tliey expe£^, I am iatisiiedi
And I h(^ criticifih will fpare me aftct
'1^ explanation
INTRO*
:»'.->
BBBHaaipBB
4**^4*4*4*4*4*4*4**^4**^^*t^'
wte
tA'
INTRODUCTION.
JtsL DfisxRB of knowing fomethingof theUhhe^
States, of which we hear fo much, and know.fo
little, together with fome occurrences in bufi«
nefs, induced me to mak^ a trip thither during
the laft Summer. I have been highly gratified :
and as my account is chiefly founded on my
own ddtual experience and obferv^ i?,«n, and
different in many refpe&s from any other, ac-
count, I am induced by thefe motives, as well
as by the requeit of many friends, to fend my
Journal forth into the world. It is publiihed'
in the fame order in which ii was written on the
ipot, which 1 hope will be an excufe for the
want of method, and the errors and occaiional
repetition to be foiind in fome places.
% a 3 In
vl
INTRODUCTION.
In Narratives of this kind, the world is gene-
rally better pleafed with plain matter of fa£^,
than abftrad difquifitions, or the Author's own
ientiments obtruded too much on the Reader.
Moft of the modern accounts of the United
States have been publifhed under the influence
of prejudice. While feme have rated them too
highly in the clafs of nations, others have de-
preciated them too much, even to contempt.
Imlay's is the pufF direSfy and Cooper's the
puff oblique. On the other hand, the Author
of Letters , en Emigration, lately publiflied by
Kearfley, has viewed everything withaj^un«
diced eye. I took Brifibt's Travels in my
hand, and palTed. over the fame ground as he
did, from Bofton through Conne£licut to New
York, and' afterwards to Philadelphia, and fre-
quently 0opt at the fame inns. His account is
tolerably accurate : however, in a period of
iive years, fome conliderable alterations and
improvements have talcen place. His book
gives much real information. His account
of Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Wadfworth, and of the
Prefident, agrees with my own obfervations,
as I was in company with^ and at the table of
each of them.
, JBriiTot
INTRO'irUCTION.
vu
Briflbt juftly obferves of the Northern States^
(particularly Connediicut) that cafe and abun-
dance univerfally reign there : for induftry if
fure to receive the- reward of independency.
But he has exceeded the truth refpeding the
fuccefs of a vineyard, at Spring Mill, twenty
miles from Philadelphia, which, he fays, (page
252] fucceeds well, and produces much good
wine. The fa£l is, it does not fucceed at all*
The Frenchman who began it, does not make it
anfwer, nor can any vineyards fucceed, while
there remain fuch immenfe flights of birds and
infeds*
His meteorological account for Pennfylvantat
is far lefs in the extreme than the fa6^, (page
256.)
The prefent appears to me, a good point of
time to take a fketch of America, and to mark
its progrei's iince it began to rank among the
nations of the earth. This government is raif*
ing itfelf on a new fyflem,— without Kings-—
without Nobles— without a Hierarchy, Re<*
ligion is left to its own intrinfu: worth and
evidence, and we now ihall fee whether it can
fupport
• ••
vni
INTRODUCTIOJf.
fupport Its due influence amongp iVien, without
a£ts of parliament to inforce it } and whether
it is eflential to Religion, thnt its eminent men
** Jhould rtar their mitred fronts in Courts and
Parliaments:** It will be grateful to poftcrity
to mark the beginnings of an Empire, not
founded on conquefl, but on the fober progrefs
and didates of rcafbn, and totally difeocumbered
of the feudal fyftem, which has cramped the ge-
nius of mankind for more than feven hundred
jear^ paft»
In thefe States, you behold a certain plain-
nefs and flmplicity of manners, which befpcalc
temperance, equality of condition, and a fober
life of the faculties of the mind— ^the mens (ana
tn carport fano. It is feldom yqu hear of a mad
man, or a blind man, in any of the States ;^ fel-
dom of a felo de fe^ or a man afflicted with the
gout or palfy. There is, indeed, at Philadel-
phia, an hofpital for lunatics. I went over it,
but found there very few, if any, who were na-
tives \ they were chiefly Iriih, and moilly women.
The diforders in the United States, arife chiefly
from external caufes. A bilious remittent fever
is common in thte fouth .and middle States,
about the cloie of every hot fummerj^ owing to
the
IVTIOSUCTION. M
the mcrcaitd exhalations, at that fearon, of the
ftagnant waters, which abound* But this evil
is leffening in proportioo to the cultivation of
their fioil, which tends to render the clinuite it-
ielf more temperate.
The Author of LetUrs en Emigration^ a«,
mongft other obje^ions, obferves, •* That there
does not exift a more fordid, penurious race, than
the Captains of padage and merchant veflels.*^
I xeturned from America with one of them, and
found it quite otherwife — pUnty of ali kinds of
provifions, frefii as well as /alted; a cow oil
boaid, which afforded us milk every day for
our coffee and tea; wc had good Port» ilD«rfy^
porter, and beer, daily with our dinner; at w^
as oranges, nuts, almonds, and raifins, very fre«
quently, by way of defert. Many of the native i
Aiherican Captains being ufed to live with .tagur
treme frugality themfelves, do not think much
about the provifions neceffary for the paffen*
gers ', in fuch cafes, they muft look into it them*
felves, and fee that every thing proper is proi*\',
UNITED STATES.
i
ills now bat three days to the mont)i of Ma/»
yet there is fcarce any vegetation to be feen. No
Jeaves oh any of the tfees, nor even a bud vifible*
A late fpring is here the refult of a mild winter ;
'Ijlwhereas, a fevere winter produces a quick growth^
and a plentiful year. All the' bread feemed four to
us the iirft.day, but this we find is owing to our
having lived fo long on unleavened breads comi*
monly called bifcuit. Beef is feven pence and eight
pence a pound, and expedted foon to be a fhilling*
in confequence of the American ports being ihut;
cheefe fourteen pence a pound, coarfe lump fugar
eighteen pence, freih milk four pence a pint; a
guinea pafTes for one pound three {hillings and fonr
, pence, and in changing a dollar you receive five;
ihillings worth of coin, in (ilver and half-pence ; few
ihillings are feen; the £11 ver coins are of the value
of fifcee/ipence, tenpence half-penny, and fixpence
half-penn^.
♦ HALIFAX
Was firft built about the year 1748; it has no
brick bu'Idings, nor any tile; the houfes are all of
wood, with weather boards for the fides, and the
roofs ar^ of ftiingles. It Hands on the fide of a
hill ; the ftreets are wide ; no quays fof Ihipping,
on^^ Wharfs. It much refembles fome of the fmall
villages near London, on theborders of the Thames ;
B2
the
■
# EXCURSION TO THE
the poor are very neceflltous', ragged, and without
ilockings and (hoes,; many negroes there ; the poor
are emigrating fad to the United States, by hundreds,
for want of employment. The military ftores are
cAeemed worth a million of money, and the privato||^
property in ilores, debts, and buildings, two millions
more, yet (o ill prote&ed that two vefTels of war,
and one thoufand men, as was currently faid, might
cleftroy it all; a great many cannon here lying about
on the wharf, as they have done for a great while,
in a ftate to be of no ufe. The deamefs of all kinds
4Df proviiions^, and the reilridiions on the trade of
Nova Scotia, to take almoil all their articles from
England, is a great check to the growth of this
cqlony.
Here is a fine harbour, with a large inner bafon,
called Bedford Bafon, or Bulhey Cove, capable of
holding forty fail of the line. An engagement was
once fought there between an Englifli and French
fleet. Halifax is efteemed ^ very healthy place,
although it much abounds with fogs. ,.
jipril zgi This morning an, Indian family tame
in along fhore In their canoe from a diilant part of,
the coail. Two young men, and the wife and mo-
ther of one of them, were thofe I faw. Their ftature*
about five feet four inches, appeared like the loweft
and.,wori^ of our gipfies, with long, lank, dark hair,
imall eyes,, high cheek bCnes, very yellow complex-
ions.
''-"1
UNITED 8TATE9.
\
ions, and ilupid countenances. They were of the
, Mick-mack tribe, whofe general charafter is> a
diflike to all, kinds of labour or exertion* e: on which they chiefly
live. Yet fo Indolent, that when they have killed
one, they fix themfelves on the fpot till they hav«
eaten him up entirely- After which, till they kill
another, they often fufFer a great deal of hunger*
In this cafe, they fifli, or fearch on the fea (here for
eggs, which are often found there in great plenty*
The drefs of the young woman was remarkable ; a
cap made of rufhes, in the form of a fugar loaf; a
blue ferge petticoat, very ihort ; a flannel cloke of
a yellow ground, efnboiTed with red ^Rrers; her
hair plaited into a long pig tail down her back,
almoil to the ground, I endeavoured to hold fome
converfation with the young woman, but I could
not make her, underiland me ; (he could only fay*
" No Englilh, fir," which ftie fpoke with great
' modelly. It is certain, however, that genius/'is to
be found even amongd thefe poor Indians, for I
faw, two days after this at Liverpool, (a fifhing town
*on this coaft) fome exceeding pretty work baikets,
made of porcupine quills, formed intp a variety of
fancied figures, of different colours, red, yellow,
■ black, white and brown. The quills were ilaiaed of
thefe colours by themfelves, and had a great re-
femblance to the workmanihip of the Wampuni-
belts. . ^. ,
B3
Our
V KXCUItSrON TO THB
Oor friend Mr. Forfythc, having at length in-
formed us of a fmall boat, juft difcharged of a cargo
of lumber, and returning immediately to Liver-*
pool« we determined to embrace this opportunity
of getting on part of the way, although only
feventy miles, depending on chance to carry us on
afterwards* At five o'clock in the afternoon>
(April iQ) we got on board, with a good frefh
wind from the north, having flowed in fuch pro-
vifions as we thought we might want, confifting
of fome cold tongue, and a piece of boiled beef^
bottled porter, and Port wine, tea and fugar, bread*
bKcuit, &c. &ۥ
We foon pafTed St. George's Ifland, then Jebuflo
Head, and by night we were oiF Sambro' Ifland* the
•light-houfe being within half a mile of us* making
a beautiful appeai'ance. The wind now funk and
we lay becalmed. After a light fupper, and a
draught of excellent bottled cyder* we took to our
beds* and flept very found till the morning.
May I. A fine ferene morning ; when we arofe
we found ourfelves out in the wide 6cean* hardly
in fight of any land, thirty miles fouth of Halifax.
Our boat was very fmall, fcarcely twenty tons bur-
den, ^nd the waves, although very moderate, Wafhed
the whole deck. We had only two feamen on board*
young men of about twenty years of age, very
s^odeil* civil, well fpoken youths. The wind now
fpruhg
I7NITBD STATES^ f
•
i^rung up fre(h, and (hook our little boat exceed-
ingly : the name of the veiTel was The Harlequin ;
Mr* Hobe on hearing thisv fliook his head* and
hoped this Harlequin would play us no tricks. At
feven in the evening, the wind fet directly againft
us ; luckily we were clofe in with land, and there-
fore put back to Port Lehave, where we caft anchor.
This is as large a harbour as Portfmouth. In
failing up the harbour, I obferved a large building
at a diilance, to my great joy, being the only houfe
I had feen the whole day f we foon found it was a
barn. Adjoining to it was a fmall houfe of one
ftory, with one chimney, not promiiing much com-"
fort to us. We, however, determined to land, and
carrying an empty porter bottle or two with us, we
got on ihore, not without fome difficulty, a large
mafiiif dog keeping us at bay, for fbme time. Our
feamen led the way, apd entering the houfe, we
found a man and woman fitting" near a large fire«
with a maid behind rocking a very uncouth cradle^
in which lay a fqualling infant. We folicited fome
milk, and (hewed our empty bottles, but we could
not make them underfland us, till Mr. Hobe, judg-
ing by their appearance, they might be Germans^
addreiTed them in High Dutch. '1 his procured ut
at once a hearty welcome ; we fat half an hour with
them on a bench before the fire, for there was no
chair in the houfe. Another man of the family now
joined us ; our bottles were filled with milk, they
would take no confideration for it : enquired much
B ^ hoyr
rung
/.
I BXCURSION TO THE
how things went on in Europe, of which they
feemed to know very little. There was a great
appearance of thrift and happy eafe around them :
a bad watch of the largefl and oldeft fafhion was
hung up by the window, and was the only regulator
of their time; he corredled it every morning, by
means of a Bofton almanack, watching tKe time of
the fun's rifing, and fetting it accordingly. We now
took our leave of them, and taking a lighted Aick
from their fire, to make one on board for ourfelyes*
we warmed our milk, and had a very comfortable
fupper, and turned in, as they call it, about ten
o'clock.
May 2. At five c'ctbck we weighed anchor,
with a favourable wind, Und were foon out at Tea;
paiTcd feveral Murlegaih fifhinf vefTels, (a very
thriving place, about twenty leagues w ft of Hali-
fax.) We now failed along a very pleafant even
coaft, which, though much uncultivated, was h«re
and there interfperfed with decent Hngle houfes, til!
we came, about eleven o'clock, to Liverpool, or
Lunenburgh, as it was once called. It is a very
pleafant little town, Handing round a deep bay, the
houfes well built, though of wood. It was. a very
fine day, and after we had refrefhed ourfelves at the
White Horfe, (the only inn in the place,) myDanifh
friend and myfelf took a -walk into the woods, but
it was fo thick, we could not go far. We, however,
fprung partridges and pheafants in abundance : we
next
UNITED STATES* j)
next went with a letter of introdu£lion to Mr»
Benajah ColUna* who received as very hofpitably*
At the entrance of the harbour of Liverpool> is a
ftockade forti mounting four guns> to defend the
entrance. We walked thither with Mr. Collins, and
from this eminence we faw a veiTel at anchor at the
mouth of the harbour, about two miles didance $
we hailed a boat and went on board, and found it
was a fiihing fchooner from Plymouth, in MafTachn*
(1^, bound to the Banks of Newfoundland. W«
had fome difficulty to perfuade them to alter their
courfe, and take us towards the place of our defti*
nation, either to Shelburne orBarington, near Cape
Sable, as we found there was a good chance from
one of thefe places, of getting by fome boat or
other, over to Boilon. At laft, for five guineas*
they agreed to take us to the Cape ; we got our.lug*
. gage on board, and by eight in the evening were '
under weigh : it foon falling calm, We made very
little progrefs, we therefore got our lines out . and
began fifhing. We had eight feamen on board, all'
Americans, the moilinoffenfive, civil, friendly men I <%
ever met with, full of fludioufnefs to pleafe us,' and
"^ to make us welcome to every thing in the ihip.
They were very inquifitive for news from the old
country, for fuch they ftill call England; hoped
there would be no war with us : they fatd theiif
country had fuffered much by having their veffels
taken. Mr. Grey of Salens, a very worth J^ mer»
B 5 chant*
10
EXCURSION TO THE
chtnt» had loft th&ty of his yeflels, and wit alinoft
rained by it. They did not fuppofe the King
knew any thin^ of it, or he would not fuJTer it. We
thti» tHked of the late American war; Ihjy had
all fought in it ; one had been a prifoner twice ; a
iecond (hewed the fears he had received in the war ;
another had fought under Gates and Arnold, at the
battle of Saratoga ; a fourth had not only ferved
theKe» but was alfo with the army at York Town,
where Lord Cornwallis laid down his arms. They
fpoke with the higheft praifes of General Wafiiir^
ton, for his affability, humanity, and catc of his
men.
,(
In a word, I muft fay, I was never engaged in a.
converfation in which I faw (b much of the honefl
feelings of nature. They offered u« ta partake of
their grog, for t)iat they thought was a liquor every
body mull lov.^ be A. By this time they had drawn
up ten or twelve fine cod, which were flapping
about the deck. We made a mofl excellent dinner .
from them ; fo white, fo flakey and delicious, that
«^ we wanted no fauce, hunger fupplying the ''beft
of the kind, and thus did we eat it in high per^
fe^on.
J ) Although the weather has hitiici lo been fun(hiny»
•with now and then a fog of fhort continuance, yet
now we begin to fe;el them more denfe and lafling*
with freouent blfds of hot and cold air. The
J . coafls.
#
ITNITED STATES.
II
coaftsf when vi Me, appeur very barren->|^l^\^
rocks and bladed fir-tree and pines, make^^eyy
cheeriefs profpect. Yet here and there ^oi^ « ^*
folitary hottfe along tie coaft like thofe^ jfJEu-^ .^
rope. We landed to-day at a Scotchmaf
|!'ifefhire ; a very pretty woman for his wih^>«^hq^__^^^x^^•
was aihamed to be caught nurfing the youngel^of S6m^^ ^
fovr children, fitting by the fire without any cap
on, and her hair uncombed ; (he was from New
England* Scott his name. We paid them for milk
fixpencc a quart, eggs ninepence per dozen. We
fpent an hour very pleafantly rambling about. He
fhewed us an harbour he had made for hi., boat at
the top of the creek. The ieamen comph.in how^
exceedingly dear fait is ; it is now fix dollars % hog«
Ihead, which ufed to be fold for three. It is very
brown and coarfe, and comes from Turk's Ifland, in
the Weft Indies. A dollar is four ihillings and fix*
pence fterling, or fix fhiiling& currency. They make
iittle or no fait in America, though neceflity obliged
them during their war for independence, to make it
in Virginia. Labour is too dear ; befides, they da
not know how to granulate it.. «
The feamen obferved, that though they are
•imoft always at fea, they are obliged to pay as
annual tax to their minifter or clergyman, of feven
or eight (hillings ; and that by law every man ar-
riving at fixteen years of age, muft pay four ihillings
per annum. This is at Plymouth*.
B 6 Th©
».
12
.EXCURSION TO THE
The wind is continaally contrary for us, W. and
N. W. We have been from Friday evening till Sun-
day night going five leagues, from Liverpool to
Port Muttoon. The wind this morning, (Monday)
is fprung up from the eaft, and we go on five knots
an hour; involved however, in a thick fog, and
obliged every now and then to found the conch, to
prevent any other veffel from running^foul of us. I
have flept very comfortably fince on board the Polly
of Plymouth, in a fmall cabin ten feet fquare, with a
conftant fire night and day ; fix of us, (two on
watch). I obferved on the foremaft of this veffel>
^s well as of the other fchooner, a horfe-ihoe nailed^
but when I afked them the reafon, I could get no
anfwer from them. We go to bed at eight o'clock,
and get up at eight. The bugs I found very trouble-
fome; thefe have peftered me fad ly, ever fince I came
to Halifax for they abound in thefe parts. Our cold
tongue, beef, bread, and fugar, are all expended 5
we eat our falmon and cod without butter or bread,
but we have potatoes ; our bottled porter is out,
and we have no winej the water we drink is of a
pale yellow colour, yet of no bad tafle. We make
ourfelves very happy. Mr. Hobe and myfelf are
finging fongs every day, and they entertain us with
Yankee Doodle, and other fongs made during the
late war. We now paffed Bear Port ; and the rug-
ged Ifles, and Port Jolly, alfo the two rocks called
the Bull and the Whale. We had an excellent
breakfail to-day on chocolate^ and fome bifcuitai.'
• '■ . r, ■„*■ .- -V' made
i
' \
UNITED STATES.
\-
J3
made of midlings and Indian wheat mixed, very
coarfe and dark coloured, not half ground> fo bad
that when I firil came on board, I thought it would
be impoflible tO eat it, and even wondered how they
could eat it ; but now it does very well, and I find it
agrees with me, and is very wholefome. We do not
know how time goes, ray watch the only one on
board, met with an accident and does not go, and
the fog prevents our feeing the fun $ when we arc
hungry we eat ; when thirfty we go to the water
cafk ; and when we find nothing to do, we go to
our beds. What a contraft to the bufy fcenes I
have been ufed to at home ! yet if it pleafe God
that I once more get home to my native country,
and the fociety of my friends, the remembrance of
all thefe difficulties paiTed over, will, I am confident*
aftbrd much pleafure in thp recolledion.
are
At two o'clock, {May 5, P. M.) faw the light-
l>oufe at the entrance into Port Rofeway, or Shel-
burne. This town is now almofl deferted ; the
royalifts of America were encouraged to fettle here,
by the Briiifh government, at the conclufion of the
war, and carried a great deal of property with
them. A town with good hiindfome ftreets was
planned; but \yhen the encouragement held out,
for two years, by government, ceafed, they could
not maintain themfelves; all their articles, fifh and
lumber, came to market fo dear, that their trade
felLofFi and perfons who fet out with a capital of
two
againft
, ■ which
•4
UNITED STATES.
»5
which the Tea was dafhing its waves. Add to this
the noife of the Tea fowlj and the cries of the Iook
bird« which jud thrufls its long neck above the
water, and halloos like a man fliHuting at a great
diftaitce* made us at times, aimed melancholy.
What can induce any man to forfake fociety, aad
build thofe houfes we fee every now and then on
this ugly horrid coa(l> is difficult to conceive. They
mud either have been ufed very ill by the world, or
have ufed the world very ill. .
_. > 1
Had Tajo been on this dreary coaft, before he had
written his JerufaUm, he would have coniiderablj
heightened his defcription of the Enchanted Forefl^^
* V ' ■ ■ *
We went to Mr. Serjeant, the principal man
there, (a merchant and flore*keeper,) to find out a
VefTel to take us to Bollon. But to our mortification^
found there was no velTel had ^put in there all the
fpring, except one ; and that the
which makes a prodigious curfent, and occafions
our veflel to roll exceedingly.
May 7. We have had a fine run acrofs the Bap
of Fuhdy, and are now, at eight o'clock in the
morning, within twenty leagues of Boflon, but it
being rather foggy, we have flackened fail and
'fee(ed» Our little filhing veffel of forty tons, has
onlv three fails, a jib, forefail, and mainfail ; rolls
exceedingly. Provifions and every other accom-
jnodation, we are very fcanty of.
■ F
Yefterday, being on St. George's Bank, with
ninety fathom water, we put down a line and
caught a very fine cod, which fupplied us with a
dinner to-day, wiih a ftw potatoes, and for our
drink we had the yellow water before mentioned.
Mr. Hobe, my companion, has travelled through
Germany
UNITED STATES.
n
Germany and Switzerland, whera- he has often
found bad accommodations, fo he is feaibned in fome
meafure, to it ; but yet he longs to get to Boflon,
as well as myfelf, to have the fight of meat aful
wine, and taile bread once more. Towards even-
iftg, the wind unfortunately (hifted to the N.. W,
in our very teeth, fo that we are driven from all
hopes of making land to-night.
with
and
/ith a
3r our
ed.
May^ 8. A clear fine mornings dry and cold,
(wind N. W.) At nine o'clock, faw land at ten
or twelve leagues diilance, but fo obfcurely, that
our Skipper cannot pronounce abfolutely what land
it is, whether Cape Ann or Cape Cod. Saw feveral
whales fpouting ; one within half a mile of the fliip«,
whofe body I could dittinflly fee; the fpouting re-
fembles the ihow^r thrown from a fire engine. At
ten o'clock, faw a fleet of ihips, near thirty,
(fchooners going to fifh for cod, on Nantucket
ihoals) ; it was a very fine fight, mth, all their fails-
bent. Two of them pafTed and hailed us. At
three o'clock, came in clofe under land, at Cape
Cod, and-could diflinguilh houfes, wind-mills, &c«
up the country ; the fea Ihore, a flat fand, for miles.
Had for dinner, three eggs and three potatoes, and
a glafs of water between us ; no hopes of reaching
Bofton to-night, the wind growing more a-head of
us ; it is very cloudy, and blows cold, more like
March than May. We now had a view of Ply-
mouthj the firil Engliih fettlement on this coafl.
«
"Si'*
iS ' EXCURSION TO THE
,-* May 9. The wind ftill contrary, and the weai-'
thcr cold ; wA-e obliged to fteer northward, favr
Cape Ann and Marble Head. In thedufkofthe
evening, however, had a diflant view of Boflon
Itght-houfe; we had now confumcd all our provi-
fions, except the hard bifcuit and water % but about
noon this day, putting out oUr fifhing lines near
Cape Cod, we caught two cod> on which we alt
dined.
May |0. The wrnd S. W. we, by frequent tack^,
and after many difappointments, got within the
light-houfe bank, and made the outer harbour, to
our great joy ; we then hailed a fiihing veiTel, which
agreed for two dollars and a half, to take us and
our luggage up to the towh. At ten o'clock in the
morning we rrached the wharf, and fo eager werewe
to land^ xhat we hardly waited the vefTers anchcrin^^*
Account of the City of BoJloUm
Oi
'N our arrival, w,e enquired for the beft houfc
•it,l^ ©f entertainment ; and were direded to the Bunch
of Grapes, in State-ftreet, kept by Colonel Cole-
man. It is nothing unufual in America for army
oificera to keep taverns. A man with the title of
i > • Major
0y
I houfc
Bunch
Cole-
jr army
title of
Major
#•
€
UNITED STATE!.
Major fometimes holds your horfe, and Captains
are digging by the road fide ; it is a veftige of the
revolution. During the American war^ a man's
promotion was not meafured fo much by his rank
or fortune, as by his zeal and afliduity in the fervice
of his country, and it was a cheap way of rewarding
him for his fervices*
In the year 1740, Bofton was efteemed the largefl:
town in America, now Philadelphia and New York
rank before it ; neverthelefsj it is a very flouriftiing
place, full of buiinefs and aflivity. The merchants
and tradefmen meet every day, from twelve to two
a'clock, in State-flreet, as on an exchange. We
enquired for a porter, to fetch our luggage from
the ihip to the tavern, and a free negro offered
himfelf, for which fervice he required half a dollar.
The negroes in this date are all free, and are a
refpediable body of people. They have a freC'
mafons' club, into which they admit no white perfon.
However, I believe they are not yet admitted to
hold offices of Hate, though they vote for them.
' This town, or city, contains about eighteen thou-
fand inhabitants. State. flreet is the principal one,
about twenty yards wide, is near the centre of the
town, and leads down to the lEng wharf. Cornhill
is another confiderable ilreet for trade, but it put
me in niind of Baiingiloke. Their foot ways are
not yet paved with flat (lones, the horfe and foot
'. way being alike pitched with pebbles, with poft«
and
••*
U
!#•
20
EXCURSION TO THE
and a gutter to divide them> like the old fafhioned
towns ^n England. The buildings likevvife^ are but
indifferent ; many of them, as well as their churches*
are weather boarded at the fide, and all of them
roofed ^with fhingles. A very aukward looking
railed enclofure, on the top of the houfes, for
drying clothes, gives them a very odd appear*
ance. The part of the town called New or Weft
BoAon, is an exception tC' this, for the houfes there
are ajl neat and elegant, (of brick) with handfomr
entrances and door cafes, and a flight of fleps.
I •
At Colonel Coleman's, which is more property a
lodging houfe than a tavern, we were but very in-
differently accommodated us to beds ; generally two
in a room, and not very cleanly, for \^e were much
peftered with bugs. At two o'clock dioneV was an-
nounced, and we were fhewn into a room where we
found a long table covered with difhes^ and plates
for twenty perfons. We were ferved with falman,
veal, beef, mutton, fowl, ham, roots, puddings*
&c. &c. each man had his pint of Madeira before
him, and for this and our breakfaft, tea, fupper and
bed, we paid five (hillings currency, for they make
no feparate charges, nor do they abate of their
charges, were you td dine out every day. There is
no fhyneft in converfation, as at an Englifh table.
People of different countries and languages mix
together, and converfe as familiarly as old ac-
quaintancesi Three or four of our company were
' French
%
4-
UNITED STATES.
21
id
at
JS,
:m
ng* .
for
ar-
^eft
[\ere
omv
:rly a
ry ink
y two -
much
as an*
•re we
plates
ilman,
"(dings*
before
»er and
make
If their
here is
table.
es mix
>ld ac-
^y were
1 French
#
French emigrants. On one fide of me fat ^ ^r.
Waihington, from Virginia, (no reration to the
Prefident, or ^ry diftant,) and on the other fide a
young man from Philadelphia, next to him a perfon
from Newbury Port, three hundred and fifty miles
north of Philadelphia. I found myfelf well enter-
tained with their converfation, on many fubje£ls
new to me. In half an hour after the cloth was
removed every perfon had quitted table, to go to
their fev^ral occupations and employments, except
the Frenchmen and ourfclves; for the Americans
know the value of time too well to wafte it at the
table. Here I met a Mr. Armftrong, once a clothier '
at Corfham, in Wilts, near my native place. «When
we meet a countryjman in a remote part of the
world, wc fpeak to him as an intimate acquaintance,
though perhaps we have never feen each other be-
fore. This was the cafe at prefent. I took a walk
with him to Bunker Hill and Brede's Hill, the
ground where the Americans, {June 17, 1775,) firft
refilled the attack of the Britilh. A Captain Grea-
tan accompanied us, who was an officer on the fpot ,
at the very time. He defcribed the whole adtion,
and fhewed us the place where Dr. Warren fell;
the point where the attack began, and the road by
which the Americans retreated. The adion was
not fought on Bunker Hill, as is on recovd, but on.
Brede's Hill. It was but a detachment of the main
army which were in aftion. We followed the fame
route the armies went, for two miles f we then ^led
'■?'-'-■ off
^flp^^
82
EX<:URSION TO THE
!
off to the left, and came to the town of Cambridge,
where the principal Univerfity in t^ ftate is efta-
blifhed. It is called Harvard Collie, is an excel-
lent inftitution, was founded about the year 1650^
is well endowed, and fupports three hundred flu-
dents; two large handfome brick buildings feparate
from each other; a third has b:en taken down
lately, to be re-built. We returned to Bofton over
the new bridge, a. moft prodigious work for fo in-
fant a country; a work, as Mr Hobe obferved,
worthy the Roman Empire. It is a brid,»e over an
arm of the fea, above one thoufand eight hundred
feet long, and about thirty-four wide, well lighted,
all the way and into Boilon, about a mile in length.
This bridge is built entirely of wood, and coil about
twenty-fpur thoufand pound5, and marks the genius
and fpirit of the town of Boilon. It had been opened
but about five months, when we paifed it. About
half way over the bridge, we obferved two iron
rings ; Captain Greatan, by one of them, lifted up
a trap door, and discovered a large room below,
capable of holding two hundred inen, to which
we defcended by ilairs, and faw the machinery by
>vhich the draw bridge is lifted up for large veiTels
to pafs. In hot weather, this muil be a moil de-
lightful cool retreat, as well as an excellent place
for bathii;ig.
There are two other long wooden brid^ es lead-
ing from Boilon, Mj/ic and I>orchefter, Ti\e latter
Ml
•
UNITED STATES.
aj
»
la-
:el-
50,
ftu-
rate
own
over
» in-
■ved,
er an
[idred
ghted,
ingtb,
about
genius
)pened
About
iron
fted up
below,
which
iiery by
veffels ,
noft de-
nt place
es l^ad-
'ne latter
,'ia
IS built on the fcite of an ancient Indian bridge,
part of the caufeway of which Hill remains perfect;
but thefe are not to compare with the n^w bridge.
A very elegant theatre was opened at Bo(lon about
three months ago, far fuperior in talle, elegance,
and convenience, to the Bath, or any other coun-
try theatre that I ever yet faw in England. Mr.
Hobe and I were there with Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan.
The play and farce were Inkle and Yarico, and
Bon Ton ; I paid a dollar for a ticket. It held
about wvelve hundred perfons. One of the dra-
matis perfonae was a negro, and he filled his cha-
rafter with great propriety. The drefs of the
company being perfeftly Englifli, and feme of the
a£lors (Jones and his wife) being thofe I had (eeti
perform the lafl winter at Saliibury, in Shatford's
company, made me feel myfelf at home. Between
the play and farce, the (Jfrcheftra having played
Ca Ira, the gallery called aloud for Yankee-doodle^
which, after feme (hort oppofition, was complied
with. A Mr. Powell is the manager 6f the play-
houfe. Mr. Goldfinch, the ingenious architeft of
this theatre, has alfo lately built an elegant cref-
cent, called the Tontine, a:)Out fourteen or iixteen
elegant houfes, which let for near two hundred
pounds fterling a year.
In Bolton, they have forty hackney coaches, ^nd
for a quarter dollar you are carried to any part of
the town. *"
*4
EXCURSION TO THE
May f I. My Danifti friend, Mr. Hobe, and my-
felf dined with Mr. Charle9 Vaughan, a con(i-
d^fable merchant, to whom we had letters of intro-
Uudfon. Three days before this we were croillng
the Bay of Fundy, and found the weather fo cold
that we were obliged to put on our great coats, and
keep them clofe buttoned. To-day it is fo hot and
clofe, that we can fcarcely bear*the preffure of any
clothes at all, or venture to walk out in the fun-
fliine. I went twice with Mr, Vaughan's family to
the Unitarian chapel, the only one yet o^ncd in
America, and is a proof of the encreafed liberality
of fentiment of the Boflonians. They have in a
great meafure loft that rigidity of manners, and vi-
gilant way of keeping the Sunday, as to put people
in the flocks who were {een walking in the ftreets
during fervice. They no longer hang old women
for witchcraft, as they did in the laft century ; yet
at the fame time they maintain a general fobriety
of manners, and the places of public worfhip, of
which I think they have eighteen, are all well at-
tended. Mr. Freeman is the minifter of the^Uni-
iarians, who meet ^n what was called the King's
chapel, before the revolution. It is one of thei
handfomeft buildings in the town. He has a falary
of about one hundred and fifry pounds a year, and
the fociety is increafing. The clergy, however, re-
fufed to give him ordination on account of his
opinions ; u}>on which, the principals of the con-
gregation' met and ordained him themfelves. <
Their
1
tu
2e
Pr
ha
an<
r
J
and
tain
•tifuJ
Oi
pleaf
Bofto
by tr<
Jame
thefe
field,
it end
mandj
top ol
is fqu|
the v with no addition whatever ; fome part w^
left out, and a few alterations made. No creeA •
prcierved but that called the Apoftle'a Creed ; they
have a baptifmal confeflion for adult perfons^ and
another for children.
There are many beautiful fcenes around tlie town*
and many views of the fea, and the green moan-
tains In the diftant horizon weilward form a beaa*
•tiful gropnd to the landfcape.
t
On the fouth-weft iide of the town, there is S
pleafant promenade, called the Mall, adijoining to
Bollon Common, confiding of a long walk fhaded
by tr.ee$, about half the length of the Mall in St.
James's park. At one end you have a fine view of
the fea. The common itfelf is a pleafant green
field, with a gradual afcent from the fea fhore> till
it ends' in Beacon Hill, a high point of lanr^, com-
manding a very fine view of the country. On the
top of it there (lands a lofty pillar, the pedeftal
is fquare, was ^ereftcd about three years ago, by
the voluntary fubfcriptlons of the inhabitants of
Boflon, and has the following infcriptions Dn
the four fides :
ON THE FIRST SIt>K«
Americans ! While froth, this eminence , fcenes of lux-
uriant fertilitji, of fourijhing commerce, and the
C ahades.
t^
2d
EXCURSION TO THE
r
shodii of /octal bappine/s meet your vienv, forget not
$bofi wbo, by their exertion, bavjefecured to you theft
ON THB 8EC0KD 8XS£«
So commemorate that train of events nuhich led to the
jSmerican revolution, and finally fecured liberty and
independence to the United States, this column is
sre£ted by the voluntary afntributions of the citizens of
^ofioHf 17Q0,
Ol< THE THIRD SID'I.
Ztamp aB paffed 1 765, repealed 1766.
JBoard of cufioms efiablijhed, 1 767.
Mritip troops fired on the inhabitants of Bcfion^
March 5, 1770.
^ea aa paffed, 1773- ', '
Tea defiroyed in Bofon, "December 16.
JPort of Bofion put and guarded, June \, lyj^*
Cemral Congrefs at Philadelphia, September 4.
Provincial Congrefs at Concord, O^oberl I •
BattUof Lexington, April 1^,1'j J ^*
Rattle of Bunker Hill, June 1 7. '
Wafbington took command of the army, July 2.
Bofton evacuated, March \y, 1776.
Independence declared by Congrefs, July 4, 1776.
HANCOCK, Presidskt.
I UNITED STATES,
^7
tot
)the
and
m is
miff
BojioǤ
ON THE FOURTH SIDE.
Capture of the HeJJians at Trenton, Decemhir 26,
1776.
Capture of the HeJJians at Bennington, Auguji 16,
' 1777- >
Capture of the Britijh army at Baratoga, OSoher 17,
jiUiance luith France, February 6, 1778.
Confederation of the United States formed, July 9.
Conjiitution of Majfachufets formed, 1780.
Bowdoin, Prefident of Contention,
Capture of the Britijh army at Tor^ {twon) O^lober
19, 1781.
' Preliminaries of peace, No and they were tri-coloured
£igs of France,
Vejfeh enured at the Fort of Bofion»
1793*
Ships - • - - - 40
Brigs and Snows - 146
Schooners - > - 174
^oops - - - - 4^
404
Ships - - - -
Brigs and Snows v
Schooners - -
Sloops - - -
78
148
210
28
464
[;>
I went with Mr. Freeman to that pleafant fuburb,
Charlellon, called the mother of Bofton. It is now
entirely rebuilt, fince it was Iburnt in the war, and
is a very neat, clean, well built town. Here lives
Mr. Jedidiah Morfe, the famous editor of the firft
American Geographical Grammar, which has run
through fix editions in about three years. It is now
univerfally taught in all the fchools and feminaries^
t^oughout America. In this town Mr. Freeman
took
«. •
tWfTED StATES.
s^
foAk me to fee a curious wool-card manufadory^
worked by an horizontal air mill, like thatifBaU
terfea, though not fo large. Of this mechanical
application they claim the invention. The mana*
fa6lor> itfelf is curious and well worthy attention.
It is a trade well encouraged here, for every houfe-
wife keeps a quantity of thefe cards by her, to em*
ploy her family in the evenings, when they have no-
thing to do out of doors. The glafs-houfe, and
the duck or fail cloth manufadory, I did not fee*
In Bofton they have five or fix printing' officer,
and they publifh three newfpapers, twice and three
times a week, viz. The Columbian Centinel, Tbt
Mercury, and The Bo/ton Gazette ot Republican Jour^
nat, A good market here fbr all kinds of provi-
fions, which are brought every day in great plenty^
and are fcld mnch cheaper than at New York or
Philadelphia*
> -
In the year 1790, there were enumerated in Bof-
ton two thoufand three hundred and feventy-fix
houfes, which. were computed to contain eighteen
thoufand and thirty-eight inhabitants.
Near Bofton are the following manufaftories efta-
bliftied, according to the accounts given me by a
(confiderable merchant there : A cotton and carpet
manufaftory at Worceller, carried oil by Peter
Stowell and Co. with a good capital ; and one of
woollen, by Thomas Stowell j at Newbury Port,
C J ^ Jofeph
so
EXCURSION TO THB
Jofeph Brown, a clothier, makes a variety of woollen
goods of the coarfe kinds ; at Ipfwich, the woollen
jnaniifa(5lory, by Meflrs. Warner and a Doftor
Manning. There is alfo in this town, which is an
inland fituation, a large bone-lace manufaftory,.
employing near an hundred cufhions. But all thefc
I judge rather the feeds of manufa
jlii-ii**-
Journey from JBoJlon to New Yarh
Miles. ,
Mllflf.
To Cambridge •
2
Wilbraham • 7
Watertown
6
Springfield Plains 5
Waltham
3
Springfield • 1
Wefton
5
Snffidd • - 5
Sudbury
3
Windfor • - 8
Mftrlboi-oagh
9
Hanfofd - - 8
Korthborottgh •
7
Wethe«field - 6
Shrewfljory
4
Middleton • ', 8
Worceftcr ^«
9
Dorham • - 6
Leicefter
6
Wailingfford - - 8
Spencer
5
Northford - 7
Brookfield
10
Newhaven - 8
Wcftern
4
Niw YoJiK - 91
Pi»lmer • »
10
\
. »s»
Wi
EDNESDAY, May 14, 1794, at three in the
morning, I left Bofton-by the New York Mail
Coach ; I paid fourpence per mUe currency, (i. e.
threepence ilerling) and was allowed fourteen pounds
C 4 luggage.
34
IXCURSIOK TO THE
«
luggage. It goes every Monday, Wednefday, and
Friday ; a light eafy carriage for fix ; no turnpikes
in America, nor any fee to the drivers. , Eight mile*
brought us, through Cambridge, where the Uni-
vcrfity is, on to Watcrtown, an eafy, ple^fant, and
good road. Here is eftablilhed a woollen Manu-
faftory, but I did not fee it. The country houfes
are framed with timber, weather boarded, faftied,
and neatly painted. I remarked that all the- coun-
try-women, on the approach of the carriage, retired
to their houfes, and feemed either to have no curio*
lity, or were afhamed to be feen idle. Three miles,
more brought us to Waltham, a ftraggling village ;
here I was ihewn, at the houfe where we flopped,
fome Home-fpun American cloth ; it was, kerfey
wove, made very flout, and large Tpun, but fervice-
able ; they could fix no price to it per yard. The
road now became unpleafant for fome miles ; the
fences were only rude flones piled up loofely as if
only removed out of the way. We now came to
Weflon, which is five miles from Waltham, and had
brought in for our breakfafls, beef-llakes, cofFeCj
bacon and eggs, and veal- cutlets, with toafl and
butter ; the very fight of thefe things took away
my appetite, the weather being intenfely hot.
Captain Flagg charged us two fhiilings a. head' for
our dejeune, which we thought dear. We paid the
dearer, I fuppofe, becaufe General Wa(l»ington had
been entertained, and flept at his houfe. It is jufl
ittch another as the half-way houfe between Salif-
bury
tJNITED STATES.
33
, *
Tiury and Wilton. About feven miles further, we
came to a fine lake called Marlborough Pond ; the
country appeared now to me very much like H^mp-
fhire. We foon palTed Northborough and Shrewf-
bury. Worcefter Pond, three miles long, beauti-
fully furrounded with wood growing to the water's
edge, in all its variety of greens ; the pine, how-
ever, feems to prevail moft in this province. The
country for ten n..ies in fine culture ; the land for-
merly much covered with large loofe flones, which
are gathered up and made into fences. Mr,
Mo^er, the landlord of the inn, we- were to dine at^
in Worcefter, was a paffenger with us, and gave us
fome information. He faid you might buy in this
neighbourhood a hundred acres of land in good
culture, with a tolerable farm-houfe on it, for fout
hundred pounds {\. e. three hundred pounds fter-
ling). Worcefter, a neat, pleafant, clean town;
one long ftreet, with two large meetings or churches;
it ftruck me as much refembling Lyndhurft in the
New Foreft; we dined well on beef and veal,
with plenty of greens', potatoes, and cucumbers, for
one Ihilling and fixpence currency per head (i. e.
one ihilling and twopence fterling) ; and had as
much good cyder as we could drink, into the bar-
gain. I obferved the women in the country towns
wore no caps; many had their hair plaited at full
length down their backs, like a queue ; this very
imbecoming faftiion could only have been adopted
< from ceconomy. This is but a modern town j the
■'■ \ ■ > C5 iirfl:
34 EXCURSION TO THE
firfl: male child born here is flill living. I went oat
of curiofity, to the (hop of Ifaiah Thomas, the
famous bookfeller, whom BriJJht celebrates as the
DUot of the United States, and 1 bought a provin-
cial almanac, and fome newfpapers of him. He
has a well furniihed ihop and a good printing office.
His newfpaper is as well conducted -as any European
paper whatever; — a great encourager of the liberal
arts* A paper mill has lately been ereded by him
about a mile from the town. Moil of the houfifs
have a large court before them, full of lilacs a6d
other fhrubs, with a feat under .them, and a pavtd
walk up the middle. In this ilate the negroes are
free and happy, are electors, but not elet^ed to
offices of ilate; their education, however, is the
fame as the whites. There is a tax in this (late, for
keeping a chaife, of about fix (hillings llerling per
annum, and there is alfo a fmall poll tax. Mr.
Mower faid a man might keep a hcufe, and live
handfomely and comfortably for eighty pounds a
year currency, or fixty pounds fterling, ,and keep a
horfe. There are two ftages pafs through this
town every day, the one to Bofton, about foity-iix
miles diftant, the other to New York, about two
hundred and four miles. No negro child isfuiFered
to be indentured beyoni^ twenty-four years of age,
and mull have the fame advantage of education ii's
other children. Wc now mounted our vehicle, ttid
drove away to Leicefter, fix miles in t1\ree quarters , f
©f an hour.— A wide handfome ftreet ; no twiS**^'l3?
hottfes
■^
UNITED STATES.
35
per
Ajl*'
houfes join ; a very handfome prelbyterian church;
with a lofsy fteepie. We were almoft melted with
the intenfe heat of the weather, and not a breath of ^
air to relieve us; — the thermometer was at ninety-
one on this day at New York, I remarked over
the doors of moll houfes in this country, boxes
with pigeon holes, as I fuppofed, but I foon found
they were for fwallows to build in. This bird is
much larger in America than in England, and
..of the colour of a pigeon. The robin is a bird as
.4arge as an Engliih blackbird, and much of tho
Jfhape of one, preferving no appearance like our
robin, except in its colours. We now drove on fix
miles further, and came to Spencer, which BrifTott
calls, " a new village in the midft of the wood.**
It might have been fo in Aaguft, 1788, when he
travelled this fame road ; but now it is all cultivated
fo much round it, that there b very little appearance
of its having beea in the midil of a wood. lob*
ferved a neat houfe, witli a water-mill adjoining^
and upon enquiry, found it was inhabited by a
clothier, that is, one who mills and dreffes home-
{pun woollen cloth for the houfewives of (he neigh-
bourhood. It was now fun-fet, twelve minutes after
feven, which is thirty-four minutes earlier thaL it
fets on this day at Salifbury ; and the twilight fo
...ihort, that before we got to Brockfield it was almoft
^rk. Here we found a good inn, at the end of a f
green lawn or common, which thirty years before*
was covered with a foreft of tref s j— now not a vef-
• , ' ' C6 ' *tig«
■r
3^ EXCURSION Tp THE
tigc of a ftump remaining. The landlord, Mr.
Hitchcock, an intelligent, civil, and curious man ;
very inc^uifitive to know what he could about the
paflengers, as al moll all the landlords are in this
country. Briflbtt miftakes, in calling the diftance
from Spencer to firockfield fifteen miles, it is but
ten. The fituation, as he obrerven, is very pic-
turefque ; it (lands on the termination of a hill,
from whence you look over a vtfry extenfive coun-
try, and fee fome very diflant hills, almofl loft in a
blue haze ;~it feemed to refemble fome parts of
Devonfhire. At bed time I was fadly tormented
with bugs, which abound very much in all this
country, and are fuppofed to come from the woodsi
The Americans lay they feldom or never bite
themJ
We were called at four o'clock next morning, to
purfue our journey. We now got into another
coach ; it was hung light and pleafant — not fuch a
one as Briflbtt found, without fprings,, and with
only two horfes — for we had four horfes all the
way to Newhaven, and very good ones, going from
JSeven to nine miles an hour. Four miles brought
vs to Weftern, a few fcattered houfes; and ten
nilcs further ^e came to Palmer, another townfliip ;
no two houfes hardly in fight of each other. What
they called the ftreet was nothingbut a green lane ;
it was pear thirty yards wide, and well fenced on
both fides, and there was one beaten |rack about
] the
vmrtt STATES. 37
•
the mid-way I for the horfes and carriages. Some
woollen goods are here made, as I was told, and
they had fpinning jennies a*" work. Wc got our
breakfail after fome delay, and a very bad one it
was ; oar bread was very heavy, feemed to be made
of rye ; the butter rank, the coffee ill-made; — the
bell article was the fried fifh. We paid a quarter
dollar each. Wilbraham, the next town, is fix
miles ; we faw nothing remarkable there, but the
country, in general, well cultivated. The wood*
however, was chiefly pine in this neighbourhood.
Springfield Plains, a pleafant open country, much
like the neighbourhood of Alresford, in Hampihire ;'
from fine plains, we defcend gradually to a beauti-
ful vale, watered by ConneiSticut River, which we
now had the firfl view of. It is a charming river*
winding, like the Thames, through a very, fruitful
valley. We now pafTed the Arfcnal, and foon after
the Powder Magazines ; — both handfome new brick
buildings. They were built, I believe* during the
late war. Springfield is a very pleafant country
town, the houfes neat, clean, and well painted,
chiefly of weather board ; the flreets were regular,
and the houfes join each other; it put me much in
mind of VVinboum in Dorfetfhire. Two newfpapers
printed here, three times a week. I went into one
'of the printing offices, and bought a provincial
almanac ; I collected fome old newfpapers there* .
of various parts of America; they afforded me
much information as well as entertainment. A
., ' jyiember
, 38 EXCURSION #0 THE
Member of Congrefs had jufl pafTed through the
town, and reported that the embargo on vefTels
would be taken ofF the 25th inflant ; this I was
glad to hear, as it would give me an opporta*
nity of writing to England. There is A paper
mill adjoining to this town, which is very thriving ;
and eleven other paper-mills in this ftate of Maf-
fachufets, yet paper is a good article to import.
Almofl every town print* a newfpaper, for they arc
great politicians, and inttreft themfelves very much
in the news of Europe. While our coachee, and all
its paiTengers were pafling this fine river in a fcowl,
fome fifhermen, in other boats, near us, were
drawing the Seine for falmon, of which they caught
many in our fight. I was flruck with the fimilarity
of the fcene to one near Lymington. A weekly
newfpaper is publilhed here under the title of the
Federal Spy; an excellent paper. The country prof-
pe£ts now begin to be beautiful and cheacfuli not fo
much ftony ground as in the former parr of our
journey. We obferve a fchool, by the road-iide, in
almoil every pariQi ; — one is juft over as wc pais it>
and out of it run negro boys and girls, as well as
white children, without any diilindion. Five miles
from Springfield, we enter SufEeld, a pleafant little
village. I heard there had' been a pot-aih mana«
fa£lory eftabliihed here, but I did not fee it. Next
we came to Windfor, eight miles, a pleafant coun<>
try town, refembling Frenchay, near Briilol. At
diis place we took up a clergyman^ who was going
,A
UNI«D STATES.
VI
to>
to New York, where' I afterwards met wnth him
again. He was a very fenfible well educated man,
very diffident and modeft in his deportment. A
road branched off here to our right hand, leading
to Albany, about fixty miles didant. I now obferve
fix or eight negroes working together in -d field,
well drefTed as other people. Notwithilanding they
are here free, and admitted to equal privileges with
.the white people, yet they love to aflbciate with
each other. It is obfcrved> that they are naturally
lazier, and will not work fo hard as a white fer-
vant,— Perhaps, the remembrance of former com-
pulfive fcrvicc, may make them place a luxpry in
idlenefs. Nor do they yet feem to feel their im-
portance in fociety ;— this is a portion of inheritance
referved to the next generation of them. I now faw
s log-houte, for the firft time ; it was about thirty
feet long, and fix feet to the roof; and confided of
logs or poles, with the bark on, laid upon each
other i ac the four corners, where the logs crofied,
they were notched together, and nailed ; and the
inierftlccs were plaftered up with lo?m. I foon faw
ten or twelve little heads peeping out at the win«
dow and door. The families, from hard labour and
wholefome food, become very prolific. A paffenger
in our coachee, a flout hearty ^ oung man, faid he
was the youngeft of fourteen children. We faw the
wooden frame of many houfes building ; this, and
clearing the woods g on very faft. Their firft
crops are Indian corn and rye. Fine diilant prof-
pe£ts«
i*
¥hk
EXCURSION^, TO THE
: I
pe6\s. Came on to Hartford to dinner ; to a ver^'
pleafant large inn, kept by Frederick Bull. I ftaid
two days there, that I might have time to infpedt
the woollen manufadory of this place, and attend
the debates of the Houfe of Reprefentatives of this
Hate, at that time fitting ; I dined this day at the
ordinary, with near thirty of-the members ; I found
them very friendly and affable, and pleafed to con-
verfe with one yro;« the old country;^— very earnefl to
know whether, in general, we were well inclined
towards them. They were very temperate, not
fitting long after dinner — we fat down to dinner at
one, and by a quarter after two, they adjourned to
the houfe. I requefted a feat in the gallery, to hear
their debates, which was readily granted ; and Dr.
Porter requeffed a perfon to fliew the Englilh gen-
, tleman into' a proper feat. Out of one hundred and
feventy-feven members, there was but fix abfent.
Their debates were conduced with ^reat decorum ; -
a Speaker in the chair ; every man was heard pati-
ently, without any interruption. * There were fome
good orators among them ; — Mr. Granger, member
for Suffield'j Mr. Stanley ; Mr. Phelps; Gen. Hart,
member for Saybrook; made as good fpeeches as
many I have heard in our own Houfe of Commons ;
plain in their drefs, plain in their manners; with'
no other qualifications than good common fenfe,
actuated by the love of their country. Two -very
interefting fubjeifts were in debate : — a bill brought
in to repeal a law, pafled in Oftober laft, to order
" That
UNITED STATESi
'Jr
^* That the money arifing from the fale of their
" lands, between the Ohio and Lake Erie, fhould
** be appropriated to encreafe the falaries of the
«' minirters of the gofpel and the mafler of
** fchools ;"• and another bill (for its fecond read*- ^
^g) " '^o provide for thofe poor and fick negroes,
•' who having been freed from flavcry, might be
" left unprovided for ; and that till the mafter was
exculpated, by receiving a certificate from the
•* ftate, that the negro was difcharged in perfedl
" health, it fhould be incumbent on the mailer to
** continue to take care of him during Acknefs, or,
** at Icaft, pay the expences of his cure." — I was
much pleafed to fee a legidature extend its humanitjr
and care fo far*
<«'
, «
The government of this ftate is allowed to fiirpaili
moil of the others ; it was formed on a plan given
by the famous John Locke, as General Gates after-
wards informed me. It is about thrice as large as
Wiltihire, is better cultivated and more fully in-
habited than any other, as they reckon forty-five
perfons to every fquare mile. The clergy are chofen
by the people who pay them. Their falaries are in
general one hundred pounds a year ; they affociate
much with their people, affable and unreferved in
converfation, and very friendly to flrangers; by
this and other means, knowledge is more generally
* See Note I*
diffu fed
|pt EXCURSION TO THE
diiTufed among the common people than in anf
other Itate, and they are thrifty aiul induftrious.
There is no religious eitablilhment here, nor is
any perfon more favored by the government for
worfliippihg God one way than another ; yet reli-
gion ilourifhes amongil all ranks and degrees, from
the fenator to the wood-cutter ; they entertain no
party-lpirit againft each other ; and their places of
worfhip are well attended ; they wonder that any
I government ihould interfere in a concern of which
^hey can be no judges, as it is of a fpijritual nature^
jind can only heproftrlyMii^nQed by tb« hop« of
prefigjrment m a future world*.
I called at Colonel WadCwoxih'i, to whom I hftd
A letter of introdudlion, but found he wu at Phila*
delpbia, being a Member of Congrefi ; Mrf • Wadi^
worth, however received me very politely, and do*
fired her fon to attend me, to ihew me what waf
mod worth my notice. In the coorfe of converfa*
tion, I learned that Brijfot, Cujiim, Kofciujko, had all
been at their houfe. '
Our firil vifit was to the woollen manufa£lory«
cilabli(bed there about fix years ago, of which
Morfii in his Geography, fpeaks in high terms ; I found
it much on the decay, and hardly able to maintain
itfelf J I faw two carding engines, working by
. . , , water.
,/
UNITED STATES. '4||
water, of a very inferior conftruftion.* On walk-
ing down to Connedicut River, I obferved a large
pile of iron ore, which, Mr. Wadfworth told me,
was dag a few miles up the river. We next went
on the roof of a hew built houfe, to enjoy the
charming profpe£t; it was a fine clear day; we
traced the meanders of this noble river to » vaft
diflance ; ihips, freighted with merchandize, p^iling
up and down in full fail j a beautiful diftant country*
abounding with wood and with hills ; the towns of
Middleton, Wethersfield, Glailonbery, Bail Hartford,
and Windfor, were within view, and the country
finely cultivated ;-> very fimilar, indeed, to many
fcene* in England i being, in (&&, planned and colti-
vaccd by men who came origtnaUy from EngUiad*
At Fredenck Bnll'i tavern, where I lodged, we
had excellent provifions : beef, mutton, and veal#
as good as in England s tea and coffee of the bed:
kind ; three forts of fugar brought always to the
table ;— the mufcovado, the fine lump fagar, and
the maple ; froin the novelty of it, 1 preferred the
lad, though I could not find much di£erence in the
taile of it. At bre^kfafl: with us the firfl morning,
was an American officer, in his uniform, the firit
I had feen;— it was a blue coat of fuperfine cloth,
with fcarlet facings and cuffs ; a buff calEmere
waiftcog^t and breeches, and^ looked very becom*
»
See Note. II.
ing
'r •'-
u
EXCURSION to THE
ing on hfrn, being a very handfome well-built niail>
of full fix feet in height. I obferved the people
here were all very great politicians, and ready to
afk me more queflions than I was inclined to anfvver,
though I am far from'being referved. They aflced
me" for Englilh nev^fpi^pers, which I let them
have ; alfo jf or dan's Debates in Parliameni, i4ar-
garot^s Trial ; the latter was read with great avi-
dity, and borrowed by feveral ; and next morning;
Dr. Potter ana another gentleman came and re-
quefled I would lend it, that they might have it re*
printed at Hartford, at their own expence.
This town was founded anno 1636, by Mr;
Hooker. The rights of prvnogeniture are un-
known in this ilate : all the children of a parent are
deemed equal objefls of his care as well as \ovt ;
and he mull leave them an equal (hare of his pro*
percy ; this is a great public advantage, as it pre-
vents any overgrown fortunes continuing long to-
gether, and keeps fociety nearly on a level ; in
fome cafes, I belie/e the elder fon has a double
ihare. I never obferved a fingle perfon in rags, or
with any appearance of diftrefs or poverty ; yet I
looked into all the poor habitations I could find,
which were very few indeed, I could have bought
good land, within two miles of this town for fifteea
pounds an acre ,
The Hate houfe llands in the center of the town,.
where
UNITE© STATES.
45
"where the three principal roads meet. It lately
fufFered by fire, and is now rebuilding in a very
handTume ftyle. Two newfpapers are publilhed
here every week ; the Ccnue^icut Journal, Wednef-
day ; and the Conneiiicut Coutanti Monday.
Hartford contains about four thoufand inhabit
tants'i the Ilreets wide, ftrait, and well built; it
ftands at the head of the navigable part of Con-
nefticut River ; it is elleemed fo very healthy a
place, that, by the bills of mortality for thirteen
years paft, it exhibits only one death for fixty-five
perfons, in the courfe of each year, ftrangers and
new fettlers included. , This is not the cafe at
Newhavcn, the other pr'ncipai town of this ftate,
to which I am next travelling.
May 17. At four in the morning, I left Hartford
in one of the coaches which travel three times a
v-eek from Bofton to New York ; — it takes eight
perfons. When we left Hartford, a very reverend
looking old gentleman accompanied us, with r. tre«
mendious full-bottomed wig of the cut ^f the laft
century. A ybung gentlemau who fat next me,
tcid me it was Deacon Bilhop, an elder of the pref-
byterian church at Newhaven, where Dr. Edwards
is minifter. BJe fpoke very feldom, yet when he did,
Jie appeared amiable and intelligent, not at all cor-
jrefponding with his primitive drefs and appearance.
We had now, near Middleton, a fine view of Con-
nefticut
/
JEXCURSION TO THE
ncfttcut River, very fimilar to the view betwee*
Bemerton and Wilton, looking towards Lord Pem-
broke's park. Aftei' paffing Middleton, I faw the
firil maple fugar tree ;— many afterwards that had
jeen tapped. There are many other kinds of maple
trees; the black, the white, and the red do not
prodace the faccharine liquor. Twenty-three pounds
were procured in twenty-four hours, by Arthur No-
ble, from two trees, which produced him four pounds
thirteen ounces of good grained fugar ; but this is
an extraordinary inllance. Peas not yet in bloom.
The rye, I obferve, is more cultivated here than
wheat ; next to that, is Indian corn. They have of
late declined raiilng wheat on the maritime ftates,
on account of the Heffian fly ; moreover, the lands
for want of manure, do not make fuch profitable
crops in wheat as in rye. I obferve in the hedges
and fields, a great many double blofibm peach trees.
—This fruit is fo plenty in Long Ifland, as fre-
quently to feed their pigs with them. We had four
excellent horfes, and they took us on at the rate of
eight miles an hour ; — one of them, a Daniffi horfe,
which coft an hundred dollars. We came firft to
Wethersfield, five miles from Hahford, on the banks
of Connedlicut River. It is famous for onions.
Glallonbury is on the oppofite fide. Middleton was
the next place, eight miles. From the hill, entering
the town, you look back on a beautiful profpf ft to-i
wards Hartford, Here we quitted the banks of
e lands
afitable
hedges
h trees,
as frc-
ad four
rate of
h horfe,
2 firft to
le banks
onions,
eton was
entering
fpfft toi
:s of
told me that he had a pair of breeches of it, and
that it was ftouter and better than any he got fj-omi
Europe. Mr. Afpimjoid, oH^emhai^m, is the public-
fpirited man who brought it forward about ten
years KiB D 2 lege;
V
Sa
EXCURSION TO THE
lege, as he was gone to New York that day. The
iludents had all been difmiiTed to their refpedivc
homes, three months before, on account of the
epidemic or putrid fever, which then raged in the
town.
We dined at a very good tavern there. We had
en our table, mutton, veal, plenty of garden ftulF*
with cucumbers, a good fallad, with cyder and
brandy, for all which we paid only half a dollar,
or two and three-pence (lerling. One of my com-
panions in the coach, was a Mr. M' I ntoih, originally
from Bocking, in Effex, He took me in a one-
horfe chair to fee his large manufadlory, which he
had lately eflabliflied at a head of water, about
three miles from Newhaven. It is patronifed by
the State, which has already advanced him ten
thoufand dollars, and engaged to go as far as fixty
thoufand ; they being very anxious to eflabli(h the
woollen and cotton manufactory in that diilridt.
But from what I iaw of the undertaking, I am con-
vinced, a great deal of money will be funk to very
little purpofe. The building is one hundred feet
long, thirty-eight feet wide, and four flory high.
There i< not a iingle window placed on the north
fide, which is the bell of all lights for a manufaflory.
There w«.re two carding engines finiftied and at
work, but both were very much warped and crack-
ed, by the heat and drynefs of the room, as well as
from being made of unfeafoned wood. Two flub*
bing and two fpinning machines of good and com-
plete
UNITED STATES.
53
piece workmanihip, but the cotton yarn, which
was then fpinning, was not better than candlewicic
yarn. He has a water wlvcel of thirty feet diame<-
ter, and eight feet wide, but I think they will often
be in want of water to drive it : the cards were very
badly made. He has eredlcd forges on the fpot,
and is making the heavy wrought and caft iron
wheels, braifes, fcrews, fpindles, &c. at a vafl ex •
pence. The coal for working ai d fmelting ia
is brought from Virginia. A vaft number of work-
men are employed in this department at a very heavy
expence. He has many Englilh workmen engaged
at great wages, particularly one from SirGeorg'
Young's manofadlory at Ottery, in Dev.A ^ire,
who engages to undertake the fptnning worAed
by water ; a promife I do not think he will ever
perform.
Newhavcn fecms a neat pleafant town, but lies
low, and/as feveral ftagnant waters near it which
accounts for the contagious fevers and diforders fo
common there. There is a long wharf projeds
forty yards into the fea, againll '■ ich veflels moor
to receive their cargoes. I counted about twenty
in the harbour, but there were none of more than
two hundredjtons burden ; the water being too fhallow
for large veflels. Three or four packets fail every
week from hence to New York, which is ninety-
four miles diftance, for a paffage on board of which,
you pay two dollars and a half, (or eleven ihillings
D 3 and
54-
EXCURSION TO THE
^*t.
and threepence flerling) and are found in diet and
bedding, and every thing neceflary. , The remainder
.of the road by land to New York, being no ways
pleafant, and fome part very rough and ftony, i-
determined to go by water. ... ...
^•.. *3^v^:r^?:m fi fern.-
General Obfervations on the Country through
,7 t." I Ijave already paffed.
which
-i^T^",7io
7LSV
i'->
■-•'«
')i.<.0*:^j hi
V ; The beft houfea in Connecticut are inhabited by^
lawyers. The fpring feafon about three>^eeks later
than in England. They raife pine apples here;,
Mr. Alton Harvey, of Salem, and Mr. Barrell, of
Boflon, have excellent hot houfea : 1 bought very
^ood ones at New York for twenty-pence a piece
fterling, but thefe were brought from the Bahama
Iflands. Moft country families make a foft foap
for common ufe, out of alhes, and kitchen Huff or
fat. I found it lathered like any other foap^ untl
icoured as clean : no tax on foap or candles. ...
■ms^m
vt ^^t'irvr' y^rr^rr n^mMc
...The bread in moft country places is very bad;
rather indilFerent at Bofton, (at the lodging houfes
at leaft) but very good at New York. I have feen
fcarce one field of turnips, and very few of wheat.
Moft of the good houfes have a condudor on the
top, by which means, though they have frequent
and heavy ilorms of thunder and lightning, they
,lcldom do much mifchief,' .>;, ,fj> mn •; ^
A great
UNITED STATESr
5S
« A great variety of birds, very different from
ours ; wood peckers of many different kinds, fome
of very beautiful plumage ; fly catchers and king
birds. This laft, though a fmall bird, is a great
tyrant and will attack almolt any bird. If it meets
a hawk you may fee them both mount inftantly al-
moft perpendicular, but the king bird has the ad-
vantage, and will fix himfelf on the back of the
hawk till he has torn off his feathers and van^uifhed
him.
The houfes which we paffed in the woods are
generally built after the following mode : a framed
work of timber, weather boarded and roofed with
ihingles, two ftory high, beJides the attic; a good
cellar beneath with three fleps up into the houfe,
two windows on each fide the door, five in the next
flory, all fafhed, and the whole neatly painted;
fome of a free flone colour, others white with green
doors and window fhutters. The women and chil-
dren in mofl of the country places, go without caps*
{hoes, or ilockings.
Eight years ago, the road from Bofton to New-
haven a diflance of one hundred and feventy miles,
could fcarcely maintain two ftages and twelve
hcrfes ; now it maintains twenty flages weekly, with
upwards of an huiidred horfes ; fo much is travelling
encreafed in this diflridl. vris:^*.. ,
great
r>4
^•.
56
EXCURSION TO THE
- Saturday* At four o'clock in the evening, I went
on board the Catharine Packet, Captain CJark,
juft then opportunely fetting faiU as I returned
from Mr. M'Intofh's manufaftory. I found good
and convenient accommodation aboard this packet^
which was kept very neat and clean, according to
the account Briflbt gave of them. We weighed
anchor immediately, with a very fine north wind.
At eight o'clock, we palTengers, twelve in number,,
fat down to regale ouri'elves on tea, coffee, bifcuit,
bread and butter, clams, radiflies, cyder, brandy
and water, &c. &c. Two of our company were
ladies, for whom, two beds in the inner cabin were
provided, perfedly decent and well contrived. In
the outer cabin, there were only eight beds for ten
of us. Upon drawing lots, I was fortunate enough
to get number one, which entitled me to the firfl
choice. I chofe the upper birth, on the larboard
fide, where I had a little Hide to open in the fide of
the veiTel for air, whenever I found it grow too warm
which I found very convenient. The vefl'el failed
fo Heady, that I could hardly conceive that I was
on fhipboard ; yet, to my great aftonifhment, we
reached New York in lefs than eight hours, failing
twelve knots an hour. When I heard the ' Captain,
call out that we were pafling Hell Gates, I flarted
from my bed, and went on deck to fee this tre-
mendous eddy. A vail number of rocks feem to
lie in the bed of the channel, wliich occafions the
tide at every ebb and flow to roll over them with a
. ' i monllrous
UNITED STATES.
57
monflrous furge; and yet to thofe who are ac-
quainted with the paifage, there is very little dan-
ger ; it refembled fhooting London bridge. Long
Ifland, which was clofe on our left hand, appeared
very pleafant; neat country houfes difperfed all
along the fea ihore, with pleafant gardens ' and
ihrubberies adjoining. I particularly obferved Mr,
Delafield's, who is faid to have made a confiderable
fortune at once, by buying up the American bonds^
which the government paid off at par. We alfo
faw on the New York tide, the large cotton manu-
fadory belonging to Dickfon, Livingflon and Co*
which I purpofe vifiting. ^ . u
••y!.
• if-y.
Account of the City of New York*
< .'.
W£ moored our vefTel at Burling flip at four in the
morning, and after a little refrelhment I landed, and
enquired out the Tontine coffee-houfe. New York
is much more like a city than Boflon, having broad
footways paved, with a curb to feparate them from
the road. The flreeb are wider, and the houfes in
a better ftyle. Boflon is the Briftol, New York the
Liverpool, and Philadelphia the London, of Ame-
rica. The Tontine tavern and coffee-houfe is a
handfome large brick building ; you afcend fix or
^-y^-:.^^ D 5 eight
S8
EXCURSION TO THE
>
eight fteps under a portico, into a large public room
which 18 the Stock Exchange of New York, where
all bargains are made. Here are two books kept,
as at Lloyd's, of every ihip*& arrival and clearing
out. This houfe was built for the accommodation
of the ir:rciiants, by Tontine (hares of two hundred
pounds each. It is kept by Mr. Hyde, formerly a
woollen -draper in London. You can lodge and
board there at a common table, and you pay ten
ihillings currency a day, whether you dine out or
not. No appearance of ftiop windows as in London ;
only ftores, which make no fhew till you enter the
houfes. Houfe rent is very dear ; a hundred
pounds fterling a year is a very ufual price for a.
common ftorekeeper. „ ,\
•i.
• t
Dined the firft day with Mr. Comfort Sands, a
confiderable merchant, to whom I brought a letter
from hib fon in London. In the evening'; called on
Mr. Jay, brother to the Embaffador, and took a
walk with him and Mj. Armftrong, to the Belvi-
dere, about two miles out of New York towards the
Sound — an elegant tea drinking houfe, encircled
with a gallery, at one flory high, where company
can walk round the building and enjoy the fine
profpeft of New York harbour and fhipping.
You have a delightful fea view from thence, com-
manding Staten, Long Ifland, and Governor's
Ifland, Paulus Hook, Brooklyn and the Sound,
names very familiar to us during the American war.
♦■.;'- .; . '■■■ '-'^ :- -r.-X^- ^' \.: ., There
T'-
ft/'
t^
./
UNITED STATES.
59
There were alfo formerly fine orchards on the landi
fide, but thefe were entirely cut down by the troops
for winter firing. , fv ^ . .
From hence we croffed the Bofton road, to another
tea drinking houfe and garden, the Indian Queen,
This place was filled by Frenchmen with their
families. Here they all wear the tricoloured cock-
ade, I obferved, whether ariftocrats or democrats.
",■'•■. ,■■■-.
May 19. Dined with Mr. Jay, and in the
evening went to the theatre with Mrs, Sands
and her two daughters. Mrs. Cowley's play,
A Bold Stroke for a Hujbandi with the farce of Hob in
the Well ; the aftors moftly from England : price of
admittance to the boxes, one dollar. A very bad
theatre ; a new one is going to be built by fubfcrip-
tion, under the direftion of Hodgkinfon, the prefent
manager. Mrs. Wrighten, who ufed to fing at
Vauxhall twenty years ago, and was afterwards an
aftrefs at Briftol, is one of their principal female
performers ; her voice is as clear and fhrill as ever*
I think them altogether far inferior to the Bofloa
company, „ / \'x
In 1740, there was but one printing prefs in New
York ; now there are near twenty, and fome map
engravers. The following newfpapers are pub-
ftied at New York : the Daily Avertifer, American
Minerva, Daily Gazette, Diary, Evening Pojl, Green-
D6 leafs
•v^^^^:f^\ .:i^
60
EXCURSION TO THE
igofs New York Journal^ publiihed Wednefdays and
Saturdays, price to fubfcriber* three dollars, or
thi'teen fhillings and fixpence fterlini?; per annum;
and one othtr that I do not know the nanie of.
tl.
At firft my lodging' were at the i on tine cotiee
houfe, but after%vards I moved tc more rrivate lodg-
ings, at Mrs. I onng's, n-ar the battery. This is
the pleafanteil fituation imaginble. Our co-nmo.i
:!itting room was iifty feet by thirty ;, and t vr^ity 'in
Iveight, with windows on tvvo fiues of it. As v%e fat
Uw dinner, we could fee the veffels, on one fide the
ror.jT'; lauirtg out of the harbour ; and on the other,
the lame turning up Hudfon's River, apparently
failing round the houfe, within f.fty yards of us.
We could alfo fee Long Ifland, Governor*s, and
Staten Iflands, as well as the Narrows beyond
them all, where every Ihip muft firft appear, before
it can make the harbour; and with our glaifes we
could defcry them, oftentimes a day before they
came in. It was fo much of fea, that we could fee
the porpoifes roll and tumble about at no great
diftance from us. At this houfe lodged Mr. Genet,
the late French Embalfador ; Mr. Jofeph Frieftly,,
waiting the arrival of his father; Mr. Henry, of
Manchefter; Captain Lindzey, formerly of his
majefty*s fliip, the Pearl frigate, and two or three
gentlemen from Connedicut.
Mr. Genet is on the eve of marriage with Gene>
' UNITED STATES. J
6i
ral Clinton*s daughter. Being a Girondifl, he muft
not return to France again : he has now bought an
cilate near Jamaica, in Long Ifland, where he in-
tends wholly to refide. Mr. Prieilly came out in
Oflober lall, with a view of engaging in the cotton
manufadure, but he has now no great opinion of
that line. He has been to infpedl feveral of the
moil confiderable manufactures, particularly that
large undertaking at Paterfon, near Newark, in
which Colonel Hamilton fo much intereils himfelf.
He fays,** it has been brought forward at a very
heavy expence, is badly conduCled, and will be-
come a heavy lofs to the £rfl undertakers ; and that
fuch undertakings will continue to decline, till vhe
country is fo full of inhabitants, as not to employ
themfelve;; on the land, which at prefent commands
a great p. eference." ■ 'ni^^'O'-''- ./'f:^' * -> -
if
je.'
Under this conviftion, he, with Mr. Cooper, Mr.
Vaughan, Mr. Humphries', Mr. Henry, Mr. Fitz-
fimmons, a member of congrefs, and many others,
had contraded for three hundred thoufand acres, on
the Sufquehanah, about forty miles above Northum-
berland, near the Loyal Soc Creek, intending there
to form an Englifli fettlement ; but owning to the
abfence of Mr. Cooper, who went to England to
fetch his family, and fome difagreements among the
parties, the fcheme is fince given up.
ne-
Mr. Priam at dinner one day, was telling us, that
'*^Sit
in
\
6%
EXCURSION TO THE
i-j
in the neighbourhood of Worcefter, in Connefticut,
when their apple trees grow old and decayed, it was
^uftomary to ftrip ofFthe bark, from fuch trees, and
then it would have a new fmooth bark, and bear
with frefh vigour. This diverted Mr. Genet ex-
tremely; he was too polite to fay direftly, that he
do'ibted the faft ; but declared that he thought the
receipt for reftoring youth, had been loft ever fince
the days of Medea : that it was a moft happy difco-
very, and if it could be removed from trees to men,
he would himfelf, when he was old, undergo the ope-
ration, and publifh the receipt for the good of
mankind. We all rallied the gentleman a good deal
upon it, as it is generally underftood, when you
ftrip a tree of its bark, you kill it. Mr. Priam,
however, the next day brought Mr. White, another
gentleman of Connefticut, to us at breakfaft, who
confirmed the aftertion as a fsit within his own
knowledge* -'t £ ] '
1
•*■
May 20. In the evening, I went wkh Mr. Prieftly
and Mr. Armftrong, in a boat, over to Long Ifland, ^^^
We walked over the lines and trenches at Brooklyn,
occupied in the late wars, firft by General Waftiing-
ton-and the Americans, and afterwards by General /
Howe and the Britifti troops. It does not appear
to have been a very ftrong poft. . . .; ^ ^ : : i
May 21. I went with Mr. Hyde and Mr. Arm-
ftrong inachaife, to a country houfe and garden,
■■m • • belong,-
•.V''"
UNITED STATES,
63
belonging to the former ; here I obferved the peas
and beans were entirely burnt up by the fun for want
of rain ; he faid, the (oil here was fo fandy, that
they required rain every other day, and there had
^ none fallen now for the lafl two months : he afked
, me if I could fend him a gardener from Fngland ; if
unmarried, he would give him forty pounds a year
currency, befides his board, and would pay his
paflage in the fteerage; if married, he would alfo
board his wife, and employ her in wafhing, ironing,
and any other work (he was fit for, at the ufual
wages. ^ ,
May 22. After a very hot and fultry day, (ther-
mometer at 86) at four in the afternoon, came on a
very heavy thunder ftorm, with lightning, which
lailed twelve hours ; the wind was fouth-wefl at
its commercement, but foon after changed to nortk-
well. A friend of mine in England, who kept a
daily account of the weather, ftates it at this time,
in Wiltfhire, to be uncommonly cold ; the wind
changing vice verfa, from N. W. to S. W. dull and
cloudy, but no rain. By comparing his account
with mine, I find the weather very often the reverfe
of each other : for inftance, the feventeenth of May
was clofei hot, thundery weather in England; at
New York it was fuch a hard froll, as entirely to
deftroy their crop of French beans. The laft win-
ter, which has been altogether fo intenfely cold
with us, has been uncommonly mild with them.
-^ n , A clofc
6*
EXCURSION TO THE
A clofe comparifon of fii^h meteorological diaries,
night, perhaps, lead to feme ufeful dlfcoveries re-
ipcfting the weather and its variations.
May 23. Though the rain has ceafed, it is ftill
hot and clofe, and the night infupportable. I went
this morning, with Mr. Prieftly and Mr. Henry, to
loreakfaft with General Gates, the hero of Saratoga.
He has a very pleafant country fituation, about
three miles from New York, on the borders of the
Sound; from whence you have a good view of
Long Ifland, and of the (hipping. He received us
very hofpitably. His wife is a pleafant, chatty, fat
little woman, of fixty ; and defcribed to us a viiit
paid to them by an Indian warrior, whofe dignity of
manners, and ferious behaviour, were both engaging
and refpeftable. — Seeing a fervant holding a filver
waiter, and carrying the cups thereon, he obferved,
«* the fervant was putting it to a wrong ufe ; a hole
ihould have been drilled in it, and it ihould have
been hung round the neck, for then it would have
mkde an excellent breaft plate." He alfo remarked
on the want of good judgment among the white
people, in having their bed-rooms piled on the top
of the others ; " walking upwards is fo unnatural,
efpecially when there was fo much room on the
ground; befides, you were in that fituation fo eafily
furprifed by the enemy, who could put a fire under
you, and burn you, while you were afleep." Many
Other obfervations, equally dd, he alfo made, all ot
wluch
^
I|
P
flj
UN "ED STATES,
6s
which I make no doubt he was convinced were ac-
cording to the true di(flatcs of nature and common
fenfe, and the Btncfs and reafon of things.
The old general, upon finding I came from Wilt-
ihire, called me countryman, and laid ne was born
not far from me, near Totnffs, in Devonfhire. He
is quite the uncle Toby ; all his ideas and exprcflions
are ftill military ; at the fame time fo modell, as not
to mention any thing relating to Saratoga, or any
of his own military atchievements. We were fpeak-
ing of the advance of land, and he informed us of a
large traft within his own knowledge, bought five
years ago, for three-pence an acre, and lately fold
again at four fhillings. Chancellor Livingllon, who
called on us at Mrs. Loring*s to day, fays that, on
an average, in the laft twelvemonth, they have
doubled in value; that eighteen months ago, he
was offered one hundred and twenty thoufand acres
for two fhillings an acre ; that a week after, when
inclined to accept it, he found it had been fold at
two fhillings and fixpence ; but that lately, it had
been difpofed of at fixteen fhillings an acre. *«
May 24, 1794. As I was getting up in the
morning, I heard drums beating and fifes playing,
I ran to the window, and faw a large body of peo-
ple on the other fide of the Governor's Houfe, with
flags flying, and marching two and two towards the
water-fide. What, thought I, can the meaning of
thii
%
66
EXCURSION TO THE
this be? The peaceful Americans with the cnfign of
war? Whatl have the Amtricans a (landing nrmy
too in tlnne of peace ? Tlie found of the drum i3
what I have not heard fince I left Enghmd. I
haftened down Hairs, and the myftery was foon
explained : it was a procef^ion of young tradefmen
going in boats to Governor's Ifland, to give the
Hate a day's work. 1 ortificationsare there erefting
for ftrcngthening the entrance to New York har*
bour ; it is a patriotic and general rcfolution of the
inhabitants of this city, to work a day gratis, with-
out any diftindtion of rank or condition, for the
public advantage, on thefe fortifications. To-day,
the whole trade of carpenters and joiners ; yerterday,
the body of mafons ; before this, the grocers,
fchool-mafters, coopers, and barbers; next Monday,
all the attorneys and men concerned in the law,
handle the mattock and (hovel, the whole day, and
carry their provifions with them. How noble h
this ! How it cherilhes unanimity and love for their
country ! How much does it tend to unite all ranks
of people, and render the focial compact firm and
united I ^ ,
r Young Prieftly and Dr. Henry's fon, of Man-
chefter, who have juft enrolled themfelves citizens
of th"^ United States, tell me, that they worked
with fpade, pix-axe, and wheel-barrow, a whole
day there, amidft the moll cheariul fociety imagi-
nable. . ■' ,i . . , , '' ■ ■^. , 7-v;^' r \.:. '' ' " ■
i A
$^ UNITED STATES.
67
Mi^
May 26. Great expet^aiions by fome and ap-
prchenfjons by others, arc entertained of a war
with England* on account of Simcoe's having entered
the territory of the United States at the falls of
Miami, and built a fort there. Mr. Randolph, the
fecretary, |ias written to Mr. Hammond, our cnvo/
at Philadelphia, upon it, and his anfwer is by no
means conciliatory. ,> ,/ ..-*^. ....'-
r^ May 27, Mr. J. Prieftly, Mr. Henry, and my-
felf, dined with Mr. Ofgood, formerly a confiderable
merchant, but now retired from bufmefs. He is a
leading man in the anti-federal intereft. He mar-
ried a widow of the name of Franklin, with v/hoia
he had a fortune of thirty thoufand pounds.. uf:>ff<^^
«iiJ ■ ■ • ■. .
May 28. We three went over to Governor's
liland, to fee the new fortifications. General Clin-
ton was there to infpeft the trying of fome cannon
jufl planted on the new battery, and we faw the drft
difcharge> and afterwards returned with hia Excel-
lency, in his eight-oared barge. v.. . ..,<^Ak
I went with Mr. Lewis to the federal hall, to fee
the entry in the Hate books of fome flock bought for
a friend of mine in England ; there I was (hewn a
handfome library, with a large coUeftion of books ;
fome good paintings alfo by Trumbull (an Ame*
rican artift, ftudent under Weft) of General Wafti-
ington, Governor Clinton, and Mrt Hamilton, the
fecretary of the treafury.
\
68
EXCURSION TO THE
' May 30. This is the eighth day of fucceflive rain^
all the cellars and underground kitchens in the
neignbourhood are afloat; at Mrs. Loring's we
walked on boards to the garden.
'I :.
It is obferved at New York and Philadelphia,
that the rains which have fallen fo heavily from the
twenty-fecond of May, to the middle of June arc
very uncommon. At Philadelphia, the river De»
lawar has rifen three inches higher than was ever
known before. Thefe are generally very dry
xnor:hs«
:U~^-:m ■
M May 31. Went with a party to fee Dickfon*s cot-
ton manufactory at Hell Gates, about five miles
from New York. It is worked by a breaft water
wheel, twenty feet diameter. There are two large
buildings four ftcy highf, and eighty feet long. In
one fhop 1 faw tVycnty-iix looms at work, weaving
fuflians, calicoes, nankeens, nankinets, dimities, &c»
and there are ten other looms in the neighbourhood.
They have the new-invented fpring Ihuttle. They
aifo fpin by water, ufing all the new improvements
of Arkwright and others. Twelve or fourteen
workmen from Manchefter. All the machinery in
wood, Heel, and brafs, were made on the fpot from
models brought f^rom England and Scotland. They
are training up women and children to the bufmefs,
of whojn I faw twenty or thirty at work ; they give
the women, two dollars a week, and And them in
board
^'^-
'■^
UNITED STATES,
69
board and lodging ; the children are bound appren«
tice till twenty-one years of age, wirii an engage-
ment to board, clothe and educate them. They
have the machine called the mule, at which they
have {pun cotton yarn fo fine as twenty-one hundred
fcains to the pound, and they purpofe making muf*
lins. My obfervations on the undertaking are ;— >
the iituation is not well chofen ; they have funk a
vail deal of money in buildings and machinery un«
neceffarily, which is a heavy tax on the under-
taking, fo that the intereft of the money will eat up
almoft all the profit ; they are fo deficient in water
in funimer time to keep the wheel going, that to
remedy this, a thoufand pounds more is to be laid
out, to eredl in the fea another large wheel to ^'ork
by the ebb and flow of the tide, to raife water into
the refervoir, to fupply this deficiency. The En*
gli{h workmen are diifatisfied, and ready to leave
the fadory as foon as they have faved up a few
pounds, in order to become landholders up the
country, and arrive at independence. The com*
pany alfo try at too many things, and the goods
they make are very inferior to what they get from
us,
ii:^ :t
■^k{t.i
V .; t/i^;;
.*!
'hi0dmf^ ()<-::'f^>''i^ hm;j; {?•'■*"
ff i;?/,,i!;-(VM^>l^
^. The famous cotton manufa£lory for fuftians*
corderoysj and jeans, at Beverley, in Mafiachufets,
of which fuch favorable hopes were entertained for
five years paft, does not anfwer; fo fays Mr. C. V,
of Boilon, who belongs to a fociety for encouraging
3;ij<| ^ under-
"■■ .i
'.■ (
' :.'
a
J
;:l .
i
:,**' '
■'u-'j!.^.r''.-^^ .-\»
70
EXCURSION TO THE
undertakings of this kind. They had a capital lent
them at three per cent, and workfhops built for
theni> and yet they are gone behind hand.
I faw another cotton manufaftory at Brooklyn,
in Long Ifland ; — a double carding engine worked
by a horfe; a ilubbbg, and two fpinning machines,
all of very good workman fhip. This was a fmall
concern, where they make yarn for fale, and employ
no weavers ; and it/eems to anfwer well. ^ .u'j'itu
■-■ The general error of all their large iindertakings
has been, their laying out their capital in large
buildings and an unnecefTary flock of machinery, &c.
"which brings a heavy mortgage on the concern, be-
fore they adlually begin. They alfo put the whole
bufinefs under the care of a chief workman (being
ignorant themfelves) who has no intereft in an
(Economical management of the concern. The
large cotton manufadlory at Paterfon, fifteen miles
weft of New York, has almoft been ruined twice by
inch men. •• - t , ^-^ •;.-.;i» i;,.^. -- •.;.. -i-; .. .-^
i^..v?,i > ',:. ; ■ ' ■ - ■• y-* ■'''•noir:? \i;y! ^ii- v„^i!. , ;:^i}
yu»e 1 . Prieftly, Henry, and myfelf, went, ac-
companied by Mr. Genet, (the ci-devant ambaffa-
dor from France) to the nev/ Prefbyterian Meeting,
where we heard Dr. Rodgers preach, and after-
wards adminifter the Lord's Supper to near two \
hundred people, who, in companies of forty or fifty
at a time, fucceeded each other in a large enclofed
• iv;c), , part
•t>*
UNITED STATES.
P
part of the Meeting, near the commuRion table*
** I invite," fays he, " all of you to partake of the
Lord's Supper ; but none," faid he, lifting up his
hand, and throwing his palm outwards towards
Governor Clinton's feat, where the Prieftlys' were,
** no none of thofe who deny the divinity of our
Saviour ;" Query — was this a mark of his attach-
ment to the principles of Chrillianity— or of illibe-
rality ? As foon as we came out, Mr. Lewis ad-
drelTed us with tne pleaiing news that the Sanfom,
the fhip in which Dr. Prieftly embarked from Eng-
land, was arrived at Sandy Hook ; where (he waited
for a pilot, and would probably come up the Nar-
rows the next liay. The town had been foma time
€xpe6ling his arrival, and feveral focieties intended
ihewing him particular honor.
/■i
lC-
fa-
'g»
;r-
/o
Ifty
Ifed
)art
In the afternoon I went to hear Dr. Lynn, at the
Dutch Reformed Church : this is a large handfome
ineeting-houfe, with an organ in iliC gallery. The
prayers in Englifh, and the fermon delivered extem-
pore, as is the cafe at all the meetings. They ufe
Dr. Watts's Pfalms, mixed with ^ome others of
Heidelburgh compofition, and there is bound up at
the end, the confeflion of Dort and of Augfburgh ;
alfo the form ufed in marriage, which is there
always performed in the evening. No places of
worlhip are open three times a day, except the two
epifcopal churches (and St. George's chapel, 1 be-
lieve.) , V .-n ^ , . • -^
^ Owing
!| '
i
gp EXCURSION TO THE
Owing to fome accidents, or contrary wind. Dr.
and Mrs. PrielUy did not arrive till Wednefday,the
fourth of June. Jofeph Prieftly, their eldeft fon,
ivho had been wsuting three weeks or a month for
their arrival, took a boat to meet them as the fhip
came in, and they landed at the Battery in as private
a manner as poflible, where young Mrs. Prieftly and
a friisnd or two received them ; they went immedi-
ately to Mrs. Loring's lodging-houie clofe by. It
was foon known through the city, and next morning
the principal inhabitants of New York came to pay
their refpedts and congratulations; among others*
Governor Clinton, Dr. Prevooft, bifliop of New
York, Mr. Ofgood, late envoy to Great Britain,
the heads of the college, moft of the principal mer-
chants, and deputations from the corporate body
and other focieties. No man in any public capacity
could be received with more refpedl than he was.
The Addreffes delivered to him by a deputation
from Columbia college, from the Democratic and
Tammany focieties, from the body of Britifli and
Irifti republican fettlers, &c. &c. are already pub-
lifhed in all the papers, with the Do6lor*s Anfwers.
One circumllance is worthy notice; his anfwer
to the Democratic fociety, which pleafed every
body, except the fociety itfelf. They had addrefled
him with a view of his uniting with them, as a par-
tizan againfl that country that had ufed him fo ill ;
but the Dodor, true to his profefTions when in Eng*
,--»:■
hac
/...:.
UNITED STATES.
73
land, told them, he came there not to be a public or
political charader, nor to accept of any public
employment, but to fpend his days in ftudy, and
privacy with his own family, his three fons being
already fettled among them .
The firft principles of this club, is a rooted a,ver»
fion to the government and policy of Great Britain ;
and a clofe attachment to French politics. It
produced the following excellent Letter, addreffed
to him in the public papers, which feemed to be
generally well received ;
<' To JOSEPH PRIESTLT, LL. D. &c.
'«-
sc
SIR,
Irs.
** A Stranger arrived in a new
country, with whofe opinions, habits, &c. he has
but that imperfedl acquaintance which is formed by
literary correfpendence, will be fafer by preferving
a refpeftful diftance from, than by an intimate
union with any party, who may ftep forward and
endeavour, by a flattering addrefs, to prepoflefs his
mind in their favor.
land
>
" Your Anfwer to the Addrefs of the Democra-
tic fociety of New York is modeft and decent; it
conveys ideas of peace and harmony with all the
world ; but differing from their expedlations : they
hoped to have found in you the enemy of thole who
had perfecuted you , they trufted that you were, like
£
'j*^.
them-
74
fiXCUHSlON TO THE
themrelves, unable to forget wrongs ; that becaufe
,# you had written and preached in favor of the unity
of the Deity, you, therefore, (with them) were
averfe to the principles of Chriflianity, inculcated in
. the fermon of Jefus Chrift ;— * Bleffed are the peace-
makers, for they Ihall be called the children of God,
Bleffed are ye when men fliall revile you and perfe-
cute you, and fay all manner of evil againft you
falfely, for my fake. Rejoice and be glad, for
great is_ your reward in heaven ; for fo perfecuted
they the prophets which were before you.*
/
*« YoOr anfwer to them convinces a number of
your friends that they were and are miftaken in
their ideas of your refentment. There are few men
in America who will not be happy in the acquaints
ance of a perfon diftinguiihed as you are by your
refearches in philofophy, and the moderation of
your enquiries into moral, natural, and revealed
j-eligion. ' i
■^^^ ■•■ ' - .. •
** You will reap in this weftern world a temporal
enjoyment of a well-earned reputation, if you pre-
*ferve yourfelf from all party fpirit. •;
" But, fir, you are in danger ; a party is endea*
vouring to make a merit to themfelves of your
weight and influence. Beware, fir, of cafting it,
into th#^ fcale on either fide ; preferve it for the
cood of mankind by your guarded condud; and let
us.
m
v
I endea-
f your
king it
Ifor the
and let
USj
1 '
UNITED STATES.
75
yes, who have only heard IffiSI a diilance, fee that
your virtues are truly chrilUan ; -that though you
exprefs doubts "of the divinity of our Saviour, you
believe the divine meffage itfelf ; and that perfecu-
ted in one city, you flee to another, and that only
for peace and repofe. ^^= ^
** Be affured, fir, that there is no perfecution here
againil opinions, and that, however diiFerent your*s
may be from that of the majority, you may write,
print, or preach them, without danger of perfecu-
tion of any kind j and that while we are inftrufted
by thofe parts of your doftrines which with freedom
we imbibe, we fhall never be angry becaufe we can-
not fiibfcribe to thofe we rejedt, nor yet fufpeft you
of being difpleafed for the exercife of our free will,
*' Conducing yourfelf this way, your private
virtues, your induftry in the purfuit of knowledge
ufeful to mankind, will render your name refpeited
as Franklin's. By a contrary conduft, by coalefciiig
with any party whatever; you will certainly diminifli
your fame, as much as the oppofite party is propor-
tioned to that v/hich ycu fliall adopt, and fmk the
jg;reat and well-earned reputation of your long life, ..
. THILADELPHIA,
June 1794.
" Your's, &C.
SENEX.*'
t'
Ez
There
f-
r
», ■
■4i ■% "'■ '
,
7»
BXCURSION TO THE
There are two parties in politics here, as there
«ver will be, and ever fhould be, in free Hates— the
Federalijis zxidi Jnti'/ederalijis, . ■ *:'
y-.--'
'^
•■(/-■:
The former are thofe who are attached to the
prefent federal government ; they ftudy to give it
weight and confequence, and are for keeping a
funded debt to ftrengthen the hands of government ;
they are rather averfe to French politics, and for
preferving a peace and good underilanding with
Great Britain. The heads of this party are General
Waftiington, Colonel Hamilton, Meffrs. Dexter,
Lee« Murray, Sedgwick., aid W. Smilh.
The Anti-federalifls are for curtailing the power
of congrefs, and leaning to a popular form of go-
vernment; are totally againll the funded fyftem, as
the fource of corruption ; ftronger in the principles
of repubUcanifm, and for adopting French politics,
with a fixed averlion to Great Britain. At the head
of thefe are Meffrs. Maddifon, Jefferfon, Randolph,
Mom-oe^ Clark« Dayton, Giles^ &c.
It is believed by many of good judgment and
cool heads, that thefe fparrings between the Fede-
ra ids and Anti-federalifts will do no mifchief, but
rather keep alive a degree of public fpirit, which is
not naturally very flrong in the Americans, but
which is effentialiy neceffary in all free govern-
meats,
'] ,. ^~ ' Contro-
'*L
# VNITED STATES.
77
Controverfy and difcuflion, in my opinioriripeay
neccflary to the well being of the body politic, as
food and exercife, are to the body natural. The
free difcuflion of all public meafures prevents the
abufe of power. In all countries, in all governments,
pur men out of the fear of controul, and they be-
come tyrants. Why is not Spain, as fertile in
men of genius as Great Britain ? Bec^ufe they dare
not write or fpeak for fear of the inquifition.
" Jove fix'd it certain that whatever day '
Makes man a Slave, takes half his worth away." Popem
Dr. Prieftly told me in New York, that, previous
to his leaving England, he applied to the oiffice of
Lord Greiiville, Secretary for foreign afFairs, iigni.
fying his intention of leaving England, and requeft-
cd a protection againll; any Algerine veiTel, which
was immediately granted him. This will at once
do away thofe infmuations of his enemies and illibe-
ral perfeculors, who give out, that he ftole away
fecretly, for fear of perfecudons by government. ;
Who have been more reprobated than Doctors
Prieftly, Price, and J. Jebb ? And where will you
find three contemporary Britons who have been
more ufeful to mankind ! If the prefent age will
not honor them, pofterity (hall do them juftice, and
future ages ihall call them bleflfed 1 Is it not how-
i^i:. E 3 ever
78
EXCURSION TO THE
ever /^e fate, oftentimes, of the heft and wortlii ft
charaders to be abafed and vilified • 'inir* Jiving, to
whom after their perfecution or death the world is
ready to ereft flatucs, and even pay them divine
lionors — iJut, as Pope obfervcs.
•fi
Who noble ends by noble means obtains,
Or failing fmiles in exile or in chains ;
Like good Aurclius let him reign or bleed
Like Socrates f that man is great indeed Mi
/
f»<
i^^;-
m.
Of the Public Buildings at New York,
- i m ■..''/^' ' ■• '•'*;' ^'"■■'' -
The Federal-hall, which was building when Bri{^
^(>t was there in 1788, is a handfome edifice^ on
ijTc'ies, extending over the foot-way at the north-
weft-end of Wall-ftrett; a large hall at the en-
trance by an afcent of two fteps ; here the Congrefs
firft met when the federal government was formed ;
and General Walhington on this ocpafion was pub-
licly inaugurated Prefidcnt.
The Governor's houfe, adjoining the battery on
the moft fouthern part of the ifland, at the bottom ^
of Broadway, is a very handforoe brick building, '
with a portico^ fimilar to the manfion-houfe in Lon- V
don. It ftands very pleafant, and commands a
view of the whole harbour.
• ■' • • ., ' % ' The
%. ■.. . . . ■ . , ■. %
.:'*<..
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UNITED STATES,
19
^ »
The Exchange is a very pcor building, ftanding^
on arches. It has been difurcd fince the Tontine
coffce-houfe was built, at which place the merchants
now meet and tranfad their bufiners.
The Society Library, or Literary Coffee-houfe,
npw building, is in forn^ and ftyle fomething fimilar
to the governor's hf ough not fo large. Th^
fubfcribers to this, x\ >ounds entrance, and
two dollars per annui.i .*.,.i ardft*- - ,
0W
Columbia College is a hnndfome old edifice.
The Hofpital and the Workhoufe appear in the
lame ftyle, and adjoin to it. ,^ ,, j *
#
In the front of Trinity Church Is a Monument Co
the memory of General Montgomery^ of which the
following is the infcription : -
This Monument, ereSled by order of Congreu, January
25, 1776, to transmit to posterity the grateful remem*
brance of the patriotism t conduSi, enterprise, and per-
severance of Major General Richard Montgomery,
fwho, after a series of successes, amidst the moji dis'
couraging difficulties, fell in the attack on ^ebec,
December 3 1 , 1 7 7 3 > ^g"^^ 3 7 years*
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WEBSTER, N.Y. MSSO
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IXCURSION TO THE
Good Trades in America*
A Carpenter is fore of immediate employ. In
the new federal city they advertife for them> and
offer them eight-penpe and ten-pence per hour, and
ihey are much wanted in all the new fettlements.
Hatter. A journeyman earns two dollars a day.
A Cabinet-maker earns rather more at New York.
Printers of newfpapers fucceed generally very
well, particularly in the back country^ for they are
9II great newfmongers.
Wheelwrights, and all artifts in hufbandry. Men
converfant with Mill work, &c. All mechanic arts
are fure to be encouraged, particularly Workers in
Iron, as Mr. Hamilton told mc^ either in the great
or fmall way.
Breeding of horfes and mules is a very profitable
occupation.
Brick-making mud be a good trade now, as they
fo generally ufe brick inflead of wood. They felt
at New York for fifty fhillings per thoufand ; but
the beft bricks are made at Philadelphia, which are
imported to New York, tor the fronts of houfes, at
the coil of five and fix pounds fterling per thou-
fand. ;^
A Saw-mill, eredled on a good Ilream, will pay a
man twenty per cent, , > -
'-'■ I . ■,"■-' Good
in:
-1
«*■
yNITEO STATES,
8j
1* >
Good Jrticles to take ever for Sale*
Hofiery, Hats, ready-made Shoes and Boots,
Paper of all kinds, (particularly for printing News,)
old Checfe, Irilh Linen Cloth, cheap Carpeting,
and Broad Cloth, are all good articles, and meet a
ready fale«
\f to fettle, take plenty of wearing apparel,
kitchen furniture, (I was told the air at New York
is fo dry as to crack mahogany furniture brought
from England, unlefs the wood was feafoned there
firft) feather-beds and mattrafTes, (hoes, hats, books,
&c. All thefe articles are dear and bad, if had in
America.
You have no need to run the rifque of taking
over cafh with you : a bill drawn on a good houfe
in London yields ca(h there, with a premium, often-
times from feven to ten per cent, in addition.
.■-■.>^
June 3. Arrived the Columbus. As it came up
towards the battery we thought it had been the
Sanfom. The weather was very fultry till one
o'clock, when a very heavy rain came on, with the
largeft drops I ever faw, continuing for two hours.
It raifed all the waters very fuddenly, and at Mor-
riilown great damage was done to the iron works^
E 5 and
Tr2
EXCURSION TO THE
and fcveral mills were overthrown in that neigh-
bourhood^,^ to the lofs of more than twenty thoufanci
pounds. ~ *
Mr. Genet, the late French embaffador, de-
clared, that although he had been fo much refledled
on in America for his official condudl, yet, in no
ftep, had Jie gone beyond the commiffion given him
by Roland and BrifTot, who had appointed him.
Hearing from Captain Lindfey, that Mr. John
Adams, of Bofton, the vice-prefident, was juft
! arrived in this city from Philadelphia, I requeiled
him to introduce me to him, having a letter to de-
liver him from Dr. Prieftly. I found him at Bur-
ling-flip, onboard the packet juft failing for Bofton..
He is a ftout, hale, well-looking man of grave de-
portment, and very plain in drefs and perfon. He
read the letter, and requefted me to inform the
Doftor that he fliould be glad to fee him at Bofton,
which he defired me to tell him he thought better
calculated for him than any other part of America,
and that he would find himfelf very well received, if
he fliould be inclined to fettle there.
My luggage being this day arrived from Bofton^
I haften to fct off for Philadelphia, to be there be-
fore the CoBgr«fs breaks up, and that I may have
an opportunity of feeing that great man. General
.Wafliington, before he returns to Mount Vernon.
. ♦
4^
V
*>•
I
II.-
1^'-
\
UNITED STATES.
83
/ .
Road from New York to Philadelphia,
Acrofs the ferry to Paulus-hook» 2 miles.
Newark ------- yf
Elizabeth Town ----- 6
Raway --•--•-- 5
Woodbridge ---••- 4i ..,
At 26 to Perth Amboy 3f *
Pifcataway ------ 7
Brunfwick on the Rariton - - 3
Kingfton ------- 13I
Princetown ------ 3
At 55 Road to Bordentown*
Trenton - 11 J:
At 63I you crofs the Delaware,
Briflol --.-_,. 10
At 73 a mile to the right i&Bath.
Frankfort ------•' 14
Kenfington ^--•--- 4
Philadelphia - - - - - -
o|
n"
91
"*(' .^ii-'
^
F6
Jowrnt^
m
84
EXCURSION TO THE
Journty to Philadelphia.
WEDNESDAT, June 4, 1794, at eight in the
morning, I croffed Hudfon's River to Paulus-hook,
to take the ftage on the other fide for Philadelphia.
Though only two miles and a half acrofs, we were an
hour and a half pafling, owing to the rapidity of the
current, from the violent ftorm the day before. I
paid five dollars, and went in the flage called the
' Induftry. All the way to Newark, (nine miles) is
l» very flat mar(hy country, interfe£led with rivers ;
many cedar fwamps abounding with mufketos,
^ which bit our legs and hands exceedingly ; where
they fix, they will continue fucking your blood, if
not difturbed, till they fwell to four times their or-
dinary iize, when they abfolutely fall off and burft>
from their fulnefs. At two miles we crofs a large
. cedar fwamp ; at three miles we interfeft the road
leading to Berghen, a Dutch town, half a mile dif-
tant on our right ; at five miles we crofs Hackinfack
river ; here a bridge is going to be built, to pre-
vent the tedious pafTage by a boat or a fcoul ; at
fix we crofs Pofiaick river (coachee and all) in a
fcoul, by means of pulling a rope faftened on the
oppofite fide. We now came to Newark to break-
fail, a pleafant little country town ; the church or
meeting an exceeding neat elegant building of
ilone. One of our fellow travellers was a Mrs,
Harriot, who lives at Newark^ came from England
N ' «•! to
;r
(, .
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SSBS
UNITED STATES.
•s
^1
I
to fettle about two years ago ; 4ier hulband, a part-
ner in the large cotton manufadtory of Dickfon,
Livingfton and Co. at Hell Gates. She informed
me that the worft circumftance of living at Newark,
was the difficulty of getting domeftic fervants i
they will only agree by the month, at very high
wages of eight or ten dollars. The white fervants
generally ftipulate that they fhall fit at table with
their mafters and miflreiTes, but Mrs. Harriot
affured me, Ihe had never yet agreed to give them
the honors of the fitting. — A handfome, clever, fen-
lible woman. I had the pleafure afterwards, on my
return from Philadelphia, of breakfafting with her.
To her laft footman, (he gave ten dollars per
month (forty-five (hillings Aerling) and his wafhing.
Cultivated land here letts from thirty-fix fiiillings to
three pounds per acre ; — but I fliall fay more of this
pleafant town on my return. A newfpaper is pub*
lifhed here, called. Wood's Ne^Mark Gazette and
Pater/on Advertifery every Wednefday, price nine ,
fliillings fterling a year.
„ After our breakfaft, which was not a very good
one, we fet oiF for Elizabeth Town, near which, on
the right, is Governor Livingfton's handfome houfe.
This is fix miles from Newark; two handfome
churches or meetings, the fteeples of wood; no two
houfes join. Here we pafled over a bridge famous
for f battle fough't there for the liberty and inde-
pendence of Ameiica. Qn l^oth fides of ^e road
■>-:.
«(?:.
86
EXCURSION TO THE
4
ytt faw trees loaded with apples and cherries^ it
being an uncommon year for the former. There
were alfo large fields of flax^^which is much culti*
vated throughout this Hate. Here are fettled many
Dutch and German families, who being very induf-
trious and intent on getting monc;^-, and alfo keep-
ing but little company, grow very rich. The fea-
fons (here,) I believe* are rather backwarder than
in the Weft of England, the foil being fo moiftt
Few goofeberry trees in their gardens, the foil not
agreeing with them. No maple fugar trees grow ia
this trafl. The country however is fine and plea-
fant, with an agreeable mixture of wood and meadow
lands ; good pafturage, which fupplies New York
with butter, milk, eggs, . poultry^ and gardea-flufi>
in great plenty. : ,
4':
I
]
«
<
3
S
f
f
I obferved feveral negro houfes, (low buildings of
one ilory) detached from the family honfe ; for the
ilaves (from their pilfering difpofition) are not
allowed to fleep in the fame houfes with their maf-
ters. ^Slavery, although many regulations have
been made to moderate its feverity, is not yet^
abolifhed in the New-Jerfeys. '? . ?> I'
At Raway we faw fbme flocks of (heep newly
ihorn, but they are not numerous, mutton not being
in fuch general confumption as pork. Colonel
Wadfworth told me this, and wifhed to fee it more
.in ufe, as thereby, he {aid, they ihould have more
.^^r u . . ■ . wool.
i
UNlfED STATES,
«7
wool for their manufactories. It is faid they are
careful that their flocks fliould always conflil of an
odd number, from fome fuperilitious prejudice.
''
Spinning of flax, is the general employment in
private families in the evenings, when they are not
in the fields ; each family ufually making their own
coarfe linen, which they put out to weave, and
afterwards bleach and finifh at home. Long poles
appear every where, elevated at one end high in the
air; thefe I found were fubHitutes for ropes, in
raifing buckets of water from their wells, as wp
fometimes fee in the gardens near London.
At Woodbridge, twenty-five miles from New
York, the foil appeared red, like fome of the lands
in Glouceilerfliire. The woods of this country
abound chiefly with white and black oak ; the latter
is ufed in dying yellow, and is what Dr. Bancroft
called quercitron, and obtained a patent, for the
privilege of felling it in England, to the exclufion
of all others. Few firs in this diilrifl, but plenty of
walnut and cherry trees, which latter grow to a
large fize, and are feen wild every where by the
road fide, loaded with fruit ; fome acacias, or loculit
trees. I faw no elm trees any where ; 1 believe it
is not a native, of America, at lead not that which is
fo common in England.
They cultivate little or no wheat h thefe parts»
4#Qn
S8
EXCURSION TO THE
on account of the Hefllan fly ; rye and oats are the
chief produce of the country. After paifing Pifca-
taway, a very fmall place, we croflfed Rariton river
in a fcoul, and ^mediately entered the pleafant
town of New Brunfwick. The. bridge of fix arches
had been carried away by the fddden florm of laft
week, mentioned before ; but this was of little con-
fequence to travelling, fc che ferry boats or fcouls
are fo very convenient and well managed, that our
'driver never flackened his fpeed upon approaching
thie river fide, but drove the carriage, with four
horfes, at once into the ferry boat, not (lopping for
us to get out, and in fix minutes drove out on the
oppofite fide. Here we dined ; very bad accommo-
dations ; the Port wine fo bad as not to be drink-
able ; and the Madeira fo hot and fiery, that we were
obliged to mix water with it to make it palatable ;
the veal and mutton very badly drefiTed; and no
garden-fiufF that we could eat, the landlord having
no garden, and there is no market for articles of
this kind. He took care however to charge us a
dollar a-piece. While we were there, a very hand-
fome gelding was brought to the door for fale ; a
bright bay, with black mane and tail, fif een hands
and a half high and a fine forehand, fuch as would
have fetched thirty guineas in the Weft of England j
the man aflced fixty pounds currency as the loweft
price, equal to thirty-fix pounds fterling. Here we
changed our carriage for one without fprings.
4
The
1-^
» . UNITED STATES. S9
The road from hence to Princetown (eighteen
miles) was very bad, full of loofe flones and deep
holes, in going over which with our heavy carriage^
we were fo violently (hook, that when we got down
many of us could fcarcely (land ; this, and the ex-
/ treme heat of the weather made us very fick for an
hour after : however, we went no further this night*
/ Jn walking about the town, I was (Iruck with the
fingular phcenomenon of the fire flies, the firft I had
* ever feen ; and which has a wonderful appearance
^ to thofe who are not acquainted with it, as was my
ill ^^^^ * ^ ^^^^cn fpark of fire ajppears clofe to you in
various diredlions, and as fuddenly difappearing : it
frequently alarmed me, when I faw thefe fpark»
among hay, (Iraw, and wood : it is a kind of fmall
beetle, which upon elevating its wings, difcovers in
certain dire£lions a red phofphoric light ;. for no
other part of the body, except beneath the wings,
gives light; yoH cannot therefore, when the \nk€t
IS at reft, fee any luminous appearance. The tree
toad as the evening fet in, began to make its dif-
agreeable loud noife, refembling the ratling found of
a quail pipe, and now the bull frogs beg.'.i to join
in the concert, the old ones in a deep hoarfe tone,
and the younger fry as (hrill as young ducks in a
pond; thefe altogether formed fuch a full chorus,
that we could hardly hear ourfelves fpeak.
i\>ip
At
large
Princetown is a very handfome college ; it is 2
uniform brick building, with two wings, one
hundred
-"i
.•ffl^
•.--■^^tf..
90
IXCURSION TO THE
I
*;
hundred and eighty feet long, and fifty-four feet
wide ; over the center is un elegant cupola ; the en-
trance is by a flight of Heps,, and each wing has
alfo an entrance ; it has, ] think, twenty- five win-
dows in front, and is four Aory high. There are at
this time ninety-five fcholars, and many of the moil
eminent men in Congrefs had their education there.
Dr. Wiiherfpoon, who went oyer from Scotland
about thirty years ago, is the prefident ; Dr. Samuel
S. i^mith, vice-prefident; and Dr. William Minto>
the profefTor of nfathematicks and of natural philo*
fophy. I was received very politely by the vicc-
prefident, who, in the courfe of converfation, in-
formed me, that it was intended as foon as they
fhould hear of Dr. Priedly's arrival, to offer him the
prefidency of a new college then erecting near Raw*
leigh, in North Carolina* . .
One of the young collegians Tupped with us ;
his converfation was, to be fure* not of the claflle
kind, but much however, like one of our Oxonians :
Bacchus and Venus were his chief topics. He,
however informed us, that a perfon could lodge and
board well in that town for two dollars a week (nine ,
ihillings fterling) though travellers and flrangers
were generally charged twice as much. For fupper
we had veal cutlets, tarts, tea, and coffee, all of
which were good ; our beds were not fo pleafant, as
there were three in one room, owing to the great
increafe of travellers, and having but fmall houfes ; \
' 1 1
^
UNITED STATES.
9»
for the whole we paid half a dollar each, which we
thought very reafonable. This town is famous for
an a£\ion fought January 2, 1777* in which General
Mercer loll his life.
At five r^e arofc and got into our coachee, {(even
of us) and proceeded twelve miles to Trenton, On
this road lide, I remarked very handfome large
trees, which they called black walnut. I alfo pafTed
many orchards, and obfervcd many cyder •prefTes,
made in a very heavy and cumberforoe manner*
The birds in' greateft plenty were partridges, (ihaped
more like our pheafants) fly-catchers, and wood«
peckers, fome of very beautiful plumage. There
were feveral fine fields of grafs juil mowed, which,
with the morning air» regaled our fenfes in a moft
delightful manner. - 7
■ Trenton is a neat country town, (ituate near the
Delaware; on the banks of which flands the flate-
houfe, where the government of New Jerfey meet
every year in the month of June; it is the capital of
the ilate. The houfes join each other and form
regular ftreets, very much in appearance like fome
of the fmall towns in Devonfhire. A well-con-
duded newfpaper is publilhed here once a week,
called. The New Jerjey State Gazette^ price to an-
nual fubfcribers, nine (hillings flerling ; an adver-
tifement four inches in length and two and a half
in breadth, ^ou will pay two fhillings per week for
having
^
»i«
->
92
EXCURSION TO THE
having inferted. In this town. In the late war.
General Walhington furprifed and took prifoners a
large body of Heffian troops ; it was one of the moft
capital ftrokes of general (hip during the war. On
the twenty-iixth of December, 1776, when the ri-
ver Delaware was full of ice, he crcrTed it in the
middle of the night fome miles above, and came on
them about break of day ; this aflion gave a great
turn to the American affairs, which were almoft
defperate before. This town has a very good
market, which is well fupplied with butchers*
meat, ii(h, and poultry. Many good (hops are to
be feen there, in general with feats on each fide the
entrance, and a ilep or two up into each houfe.
As it was hardly feven o'clock, we thought it too
early for breakfaft, and three of us walked on, while
the horfes were changing, to the ferry, about one
mile on the road. As we defcended towards the
river, we faw encamped on the banks of the Dela-
ware, a little below the ferrying place, about forty
American foldiers, drafted from the Hate of Maffa-
chufetts, going to join General Wayne in Ken-
tucky, then at war with the Indians; they had
three hundred and fifty miles to march before they
could reach Pittfburgh, from whence they are to
fail down the Ohio till they come to Kentucky.
In paLng the Delaware with our coachee, we
ferry within ten yards of one of the rapids, by
which
^
.f.. ■*.
UNITED STATES.
95
which we are to underhand that part of a river
where the bed is almoft filled up with rocks, chiefly
below the furface of the water, which occafions the
I
current to pafs very quick, and makes it dangerous
to thofe who are not acquainted with the navi«
gation.
.1
On the oppoiite fide is a beautiful country feat
belonging to Robert Morris, one of the fenators
of Congrefs, to whom I have a letter of recommen-
dation, i
The banks of this river are high, and it is con/i-
derably widened in this place within a few years, by
the waftiing away of the earth ; it is here one hundred
and fifty miles from its mouth ; on its banks are many
pleafant country feats. The white Cedar is a na-
tive of this ftate, and is a very handfome tree.
We now enter the State of Penfylvania, and drive
clofe along the banks of this charming river for
iix miles, till at length, by a curve, we have from
elevated ground a full view of its beautiful waters.
At this place it appears much wider than the Thames
at Weilminiler, with feveral fine iflands in it. About
two miles diftant on its oppofite banks, we fee the
city of Burlington, rifing as it were out of the wa-
ters At the fame time, more to the left, vaft rafts
of timber of a quarter of a mile in length, are float-
ing down the llream; on one of them I obferved a
hut
J-
s
1
94
EXCURSION TO THE
hut ereCled for a family to lodge itij and a flable
with a horfe and cow at its entrance ; this float of
timber was probably framed together two hundred
miles further up the river, by feme fettlers, who
were clearing the land, and wet-e now conveying
fome of the iineft of the timber fit for fhip-builders
and architedls, down to Philadelphia, in the cheapell
way imaginable, to convert it into money, and
therewith to purchafe ironmongery, woollens, im-
plements of hu(bandry, and whatever other articles
may be wanting to improve the comfort of their
new fettlement.
We now reached Briftol, a long fcattered town,
confifting chiefly of one ftreet; this was the firft
town that William Penn fixed on before he had
planned Philadelphia; it (lands high and commands
a confiderable extent of country; here we break-
fafted, but we waited a confiderable time for it;
none of the family were in the way except the land-
lord, and neither by kind words or harfh language,
could we induce him to flir a ilep towards helping
us. At length we found out the cupboard (hungry
as we were) and helped ourfelves to bread and but-
ter, till the kettle and tea-things were brought;
the landlord however came in at lad to tell us we
had a quarter of a dollar a-piece to pay ; thefe
gentry never make out any bill, and you are to pay
whatever they demand. As I came out of the
lioufe, I obferved a flage coach at the door> with an
infcrip-
:.;>
<;.
-'Ni,
'=^:
UNITED STATES,
95
>>
iivfcrlption on its fide, " Briftol anc: iath Stage,
was furprifed at firft at the fimilarity of circum-
ftance to what I had fo often feen in my native
country. I find that there is a place abounding
with hot mineral waters, of the name of fiath,
about four miles from hence ; they are chalybeate
fprings; there is one hot bath, four plunging, and
two Ihower baths. Briftol is not a very flourifhing
place, nor is there any newfpaper publifhed here.
We had now a fine level road, all the way to Phila-
delphia, (twenty miles) except about half a mile,
over one common full of floughs. We now find no
loofe large ftones upon the road, as in the former
part of our journey, but a general appearance of a
higher degree of cultivation, and improvement of
every kind, as if advancing to a great city. The
wood in this part of the country is chiefly hiccory
and the black oak, fome walnut, plenty of apple and
cherry trees. In thofe fpots of ground newly
cleared, ftill are to be feen the dead flumps of trees;
formerly they made a point to root them up, which,
was very expenfive; now, out of oeconomy, they let
them remain till they rot, having firft deftroyed their
vegetation by burning them : they have a very ugly
appearance, but in four or five years they fo far de-
cay that they are beat to pieces, fo as for the plow
to go over them. Here I obferved a few drill plows ;
this kind of hulbandry begins to prevail ia thjs ma-
ritime Hates. ' , ^
At
g5 EXCURSION TO THE
At twelve miles diflance from Philadelphia^ we
pafTed over Nefhaminy Bridge* It is of a very pecu-
liar condruftion : two iron chains are ilrained acrofs
the river, parallel to each other, about fix feet
diflance; on it are placed flat planks, faflened to each
chain ; and on this the horfes and carriage pafs over.
As the horfes flepped on the boards, they funk under ,
the7>rcfrure, and the water rofe between them ; no
railing on either fide, and it really looked very
frightful and dangerous : I had never heard of a
bridge of this kind before : this flream is fo rapid
and rifes and falls in fuch extremes, that no bridge
of any other kind would do here, for this rifes and
falls with the flream. [ afterwards faw another of this
kind, over the Skuylkil, a few miles beyond Phila-
delphia. ':--.>:.'^ ■•■■} , ^^:.p-'^y }''''-'■"'' '•-['' ^'■■^-
;!!;.■?;.
>*''.->
Now came on a fudden heavy rain, like one of
our thunder florms, but heavier, for it was a prodi-
gious quantity of water that fell in the courfe of an
hour, and feemed to fill all the country round, and
accounts for th« great and fudden rife of their rivers;
by which many of their mills are deftroyed, that have
not the full .means of drawing off the back waters.
We now came to a fmall townfhip called Frank-
fort, five miles from Philadelphia; il|^ is a place of
fmall confequence, though one of the oldeil in the
Hate, being built by the Swedifh and Dutch fet«
tiers, before William Pcnn came to America : two
'' / ■ •': " ■ ' ■■ : ■■ -/ 'miles
4- *«-
i*^l
VNIT£D STATU.
♦7
waSki farthery we pafled Htrrowgate Oardeat oa
iMir right, whtre there are ntheral fpringt ; it tt «
^ace of cntertainmeiit and rehuaticm, for tlM
tradefmen of Philadelphia to partake of ■pen, «
Sunday, like thofe in the vicinity of London. We
had now adiftant view of ^e fpirek and ftecplet of
P-Uladelphiji, and the country all aroand at,^
and level as about London; the road neaify as
good. We drove on at the iate of ninejnilcs an
^hour, and entered Kenfington, a fmall viHage ; ihea
•evoffing Cohockfinck and C^oquenfqnock rivert,
f we arrived at Philadelphia^ ninety- two miles ^ni
New York, a diftance often run hy the mail ftaget
la one day, akhough no turnpike an^ part of the
way. We entered the city by Front-ftreet, aid
arrived at the City Tavern, in South-^coad^^bve^
about noon. I flept at tins houfe iwo nights, ani
BMt with my old tormenters, the hugs : tt was n
very un^afant hoi^e to be lodged at; yet it wm s
priacipal tavern, where the books are keptof wlMt
. Ihtps arii>?aBd« clear oiit; and to tiiis ceffee^^hoaif
^priacipal merchants reibrt tvery day: a pub-
lic ordinary every day at two o'clock : about
twenty of .us dined there, but we could get hardly
any attendance from the waiters, though we rang
> the b^l incefiantly. ,
31*.'
. Fandiag die Congrcfs were iKll fitting, and ex-»
fte&ed to ad|oum evc»y day, lioft no timcm gdng;
to hear the debates; after calling on a gentl^flMii
'-W
F
to
%
m
i
1 I
'%%
#
EXCURSION TO THE
'«(rwfat)in I had a letter of introduftion, 1 was ac-
companied by him> and heard an interefttng debate
•n the political Situation of the country in refpei6t to
Great Britain.
On entering thiffoufe of Re^refentatives, I was
ftruck with the convenient irrangement of the feats for
the Members : the fizeofthe chamber was about
ene hundred feet by fixty : the feats in t^ree rows
formed femi-circles behind each other, facing the
:$peaker» who was in a kind of pulpit near the centre
' of the andthe clerks below him : every mem-
l>er «7at ^accommodated for writing, by there being
likevofe a circular writing deik to each of the cir-
cular Jeats:pver the entrance was a lafge gallery,
inio which were admitted every citizen, without
diftinAion, who chofe to attend ; and under the galle-
Ty likewife were accommodations for thoie who were
"' introduced : but no peribn either in the gallery or
voder it, is fufiered to exprefa any marks of ap-
plaufe or difcontent, at what is debated; it being
imderftood they are prefent in the perfon of their
reprefentative : this has been a great error in the
new French government: an attempt, however,
was once m^ade to introduce it here (in March laft)
by a clapping of hands, at a fpeech which feli
from Mr. Parker; but the whole houfe inilantly
rofe to refent it, and adjourned their buiinefs*
being then in a committee, and the galleries wer^^
*b»rcd. i
Ovcf
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tfi and loom Drpth. bu^^ ^/ /»'
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irf^ with Freestone Co rnvces
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w
VKITBD STATES. ' 9f .
Over the door I obferved a buft of Dr. Frtnldiii»
the great founder of their liberties, and the father o£j
their prefent conftitution : '^^
** Eripuit cclo fulmen, fceptruinqae tynuimi*** ' .,\
A ferions attention to bufinefs marked the coan^ ^
tenances of the Reprefentatives, who were all ytty \
decently drefled, which is not the cafe in all houfei
of that kind, meeting for the difpatch of natumal
buiinefs. The members that I heard fpeak th«
firft day, were Mr, Sedgwick, Mr. Drayton, Mr,
W. Smith, Mr. Pttz-Simmonds, and Mr. Tracy. |
The fpeech of Mr. L^e, Member for Virgiiiia« in a jt
-committee on Mr, Maddifon's famous refoltttioni, |^
was fo handfomc a commendation of the Britifli, 'N
conftitution, in preference to the new French go-
vernment, that I fliall fubjW itin this place, i^SL
then much-talked of and ap^oved. -,
Extraafrm Mr. LeeS Spe^ (of yir^nia) oti
Mr. Maddifon*s Rekluti^m**
"•it-
'** MR. CHAIRMAN,
*« LET not any gentlemip mkmderiland me^:
let not any gentleman (uppofd, wLn I (hew that^
there is no fimilarity between Our gdyernmeQt and
• Seven kefolutions moved January 3. 179^ by Mr. MUk
tjifon, forlaying heavif r reftriaions and higheSiluties on the
fflanufiiAures and navigation oir foreign nation*, chiefly in-
tended againft ipitat Britain, V
Fa
thf
:'$
. l O ^jw '-^r* "fj^
uiia;ii<»i"iifcir-'ii-ir
too
EXCURSION TO THI
tke French conilitation, that I mean to derogate
from the wirdom of the latter. • I only meaa
to prove that their government is not like ottr's»
and would not fuit us. The French are a brave, t
generous, and enlightened nation. They have per«
A>rmed tke moft brilliant atchievementi on the re-
cords of man, they have broken the chains of
dcfpotirro, they have obliterated hierarchical and
feudal tyranny, they have eftabliihed that power
which belongs to all nations, of ellabliihing a go«
-vernmenc fuited to their own circHmftances, they
«leferve to be happy under it, and I pray' that they
tfULy be So, "
*« But, Sir, as it has bees fo fiifiiionable to bring
into our view comparifons between different nations,
I hope I fliall be indulged* when I compare the go-
'*r?mment of the ftates in America, to the Diitifli
government. If any Similitude exifts bervveen* the
American governments and foreign governments,
the refemblance moft ftrongly relates to the Britiih
government. Their executive is fingle, their legif*
lative ts^livided i.^lo two houfes. Such are gene*
fally the outlines 61 our governments ; we have only
improved on thit firltifh model, by rendering our
public fundionHries more refponfible to the people.
We have aboltaed feudal rights, we have aboli/hed
perpetuities ; and there is no remnant of the ancient
fyftem of things among (It us> except that in fome
fiates, lands are unjulll;^ i ;rcmp!;cd from the pay*
/
i>
■I-:' '
VNITID STATES.
lOf
jnenc of debt). To be fure» en^ry pan ')f a man's
property fliou]d anfwer his obligationi. The lav of
rfaibn,.«nd the law of morality require it. And
ibcn» I hope, that this (lain on Americ n principittl
will be for ever removed.
/f
1:
i!^
>i 'f
' f
.f
** When I flate thefe fa£ti, I think they cannot
be denied > ' j ^ot mean to juHify the conda£l of
the C( met ot J ritain ; I feel refentment aa flrong
as iny . t! gentleman for the retention of the
Wt'il rn poilk. I fufpedt them of unfriendly offices
bo^h with rrgard to our Indian war, and with regard
to the depredation* committed on oar trade by the
Aigerine corfairs. But I am not fent here to in-
du]ge» at all hazardi, my r«fentments> but to pro-
ifide for the welfare of my country in the beft
manner that drcumiUnccs will permit* ^
*' I fliall be ready to join gentlemen in any mea-
iiires to bring Great Britain to an explanation of all
the injuries which we may fuppofe we have received
from her* If (he refnfes to do us jufticej we may
then> and it will be then time enough* to determine
on the meafures proper to be purfiied. We have
always ample means of redrefs within our power*
w'tVdut recourfe to the propofed meafures.
* t .
*« But, Sir, difmifling our refentment againft the
Cabinet of Britiin ; feparating the people from the
court; the community from the adminiilration ; let
F 3, ps
-,^*{,
.»
102
EXCURSION TO THE
US dlfpaflionately look back npon their hiflory*
CxfzT and Tacitas, in the ages in which they livedo
tell us, that this people had an high fenfe, and were
very jealous of their liberties. Coming down to
periods more within our knowledge, we find them
llruggling with, and gradually Ihaking off the eccle-
iiailic and feudal tyranny, which had overwhelmed
the reft of Europe. Little more than a century ago,
we fee them bringing one tyrant to thefcaffold, and
banifliing another. 'In this little corner of the globe
alone, in the dark ages of the world, when igno-
rance, fuperftition and oppreffion had enveloped
Afia, Africa, and Europe, the flame of liberty was
kept alive. To them we are indebted for our
knowledge of civil rights and civil liberty, and the,
inftitutions moft favorable to them. From them we
derive the foundations of our laws ; from them both
we and the French have derived the ineftimable
trial by jury* ^ ■■■ f.^ : ^^^ •:*',•
'■■i
.'v:r
UNITED STATES^, IO3
ie&TLf altogether my refpeft for a people who were
the champions of liberty, when no other champions
exided ; and who, I hope, will never confent to be
(laves.?* . -
\^
.!*
v
As it evidently has a conneflion with, and tends
to elucidate the fubjed of Mr. Lee's fpeech, I ftiall
make no apology for here introducing the following
abilra6i from an excellent little recent publication^
entitled, ** ^JJ^ys on SubjeSis conneSied ijoith Civi-
Uzatiottf by Benjamin Heath Malkin, Trinity College^
Qambridge ;."
,'».';>■
■'^ . #>'-•-
€t
i-.:J;S-r.:{."*E;
:. >i ;.
It is a common charge againfl the aiTertors of
civil liberty, that they contend for fuch a political
fyllem as is> in fadl, only fit to be adapted to the
difpofitions of nmnkind,^ when purified from the
frailties of their nature, and clothed in the perfection
of fuperior beings. It is further affirmed, that in
the prefent Ante of the world, ftrong lines of fub-
ordination, and powerful reftridions, are neceiTary
to curb the fpiiit of licentioufnefs, and fupport the
empire of virtue and of good order. Thofe who
declare themfelves againfl the paramount authority
of the people, ftrengthen their arguments by the
experience of the American Republic, and
infer from its conftitution, that a certain balance
mufl necefTarily be maintained even in the mofl po-
pular government, to counteradl the afcendancy of
an obllinate majority.. , ^ f /^^ ,:>
104
EXCURSION TO THE
" The ufe that has been made of this ideal cosn-
terpoife, to prove the excellency of the mixed form
which obtained in Great-Britain, is fo truly curious^
that it deferves fome attention. The Americans
are faid to have adopted the policy, though they
have fhaken off the authority of the parent country^
They faw the wifdom of that appointment which
diftributed the adminiflration of the public concerns
among three eftates, and bore thp moft decided
teftimony to the utility of our provifions, by theii
ele£ling to themfelves a Preiident, a Senate, and a
Houfe of Reprefentatives. But let us obferve how
much more flrongly marked is the diJlimHarity than
the re/emhlance* . •
■'.
** The King of Great Britain holds his ofEce hj
hereditary right ; and as long as he performs certain
conditions, cannot be diveiled of his dignities, but
by fuch a convuliion of the fiate as muft overturn
the whale fabric of government. The Prefident of
, the American Congrefs is ele^ed from among the
^ people, (to which clafs he again returns at the
.. expiration of office) is removable at ftated periods,
, and unfortified by perfonal revenue and patronage.
f i- . • ■•:■''[
I will here fubjoin fome flirewd remarks of Mr.
JefFerfon*s, when writing upon the conftitution of
his country :
" In Great Britain, it is faid, the conftitution re-
lies on the Houfe of Commons for honefty, and the
Lords for wifdom, ihis (he fays) would be a ra-
F 6 -, ;. „ , tional
■4
to8
EXCURSION TO THB
tional reliance, if honefty were to be bought with
money and if wifdom were hereditary.
" In fomeof the American dates, the delegates and
fenators are fo chofen, (in order to introduce the
influence of different interefts or different princi-
ples) as that the firft reprefents the perfons> and
the other the property of the (late. But with us
(in Virginia) wealth and wifdom have equal chance
or admiifion into both hoisfes.** ^ -. ; '
#
*« All the powers of a government, legijlative, ex-^
Mcutivt and judiciary ^ ought to be di|lin£t and fepa*
rate. The concentrating all thefe into the fame
hands is precifely the definition of a defpotic go-
vernment. In fuch a cafe the public money and
the public liberty, will foon be difcovered to be the
fources of wealth and dominion to thofe who hold
them ;— diftinguifhed too by this tempting circum-
ilance, that they are the inilruments as well as
objects of acquifition. ** With money ive ivi/I get
men^* faid Caefar, " and *with men tae iajHI get
vion^J** ■' » ' ' ^ ■ (■
June 6. I had the honor of an interview with
the Prefident of the United States, to whom 1 was
introduced by Mr. Dandridge, his fecretary. He
received me very politely, and after reading my
letters , I was afked to breakfafl.
I
.'tvil "I Icon-
V'
. ;
>■
m
»
UNITED STATES.
109
I
i
\
-•■ i.
^m
I confefs, I was ftruck with awe and veneradon»
when I recollected that I was now in the prefence
of one of the greatell men upon earth — the o r b a r
Washington — the noble and wife benefadlor of
the world ! as Mtrabeau' flyles him ; — the advo>
cate of human nature— the friend of both worlds.
Whether we view him as a general in the field»
veiled with unlimited authority and power, at the
head of a victorious army ; or in the cabinet, as the
Prefident of the United States ; or as a private
gentleman, cultivating his own farm ; he is iliil the
fame great ntan, anxious only to difcharge with
propriety the duties of his relative fituation. His
conduct has always been fo uniformly manly, ho-»
norable, juft, patriotic, and diiinterefled, that hi»
greateft enemies cannot fix on any one trait of his
' character that can deferve the leaft cenfure. Hi»
paternal regard for the army while he commanded
it ; his earneil and fincere defire tp accomplifh the*
glorious objeCt for which they were contending j
his endurance of the toils and hazards of war, with-^
out ever receiving the leaft emolument from his
country ; and his retirement to private life after the
peace, plainly evince, that his motives were the
moft pure and patriotic, that could proceed from a
benevolent heart. His letters to congrefs during
the war, now lately publiihed in England, as well
as his circular letter and farewell orders to the ar-
mief of the United States, at the end of the war>
^ew him to have been juftly ranked among the
V fine
<■
*• fit:'
110
EXCURSION TO THE
fine writers of the age. When we look down from
this truly great and illuflrious charafler, upon other
public fervants, we find a glaring contraft ; nor
can we fix our attention on any other great nien>
without difcovering in them a vaU and mortifying
diflimilarity 1
#
• The Prefjdent in his perfon, is tall and tWn, birt
cre<£l; rather of an engaging than a dignified pre-
fence. He appears very thoughtful, is flow in de-
livering himfelf, which occafions fome to conclude
him referved, but it is rather, I apprehend, the
efFeA of much thinking and reflexion, for there is
great appearance to me of affability and accommo-
dation, tie was at this time in his fixty-third year,
being born February ii, 1732, O. S. but he has
very little the appearance of age, having been all
his life-time fo exceeding temperate. There is a
certain anxiety vifible in his countenance, with
marks of extreme fenfibility. , u ,,.,.■;
■\
* -,?
Notwithflanding his great attention and employ-
ment in the. affairs of his well-regulated govern-
ment, and of his own agricultural concerns, he is in
correfpondence with many of the eminent geniufes
in the different countries of Europe, not fo hiuch
for the fake of learning and fame, as to procure the
knowledge of agriculture^ and the arts ufeful to his
country.
■■^" . -■■m:-% ii^U I.in»
»<»
■, (
; A
.A
* '■.■
■•■I- .:
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-<4r^
UNITED STATIJS.
Ill
I informed his Excellency » ft the coorfe of con-
verfation, that I was a manufafturer from England*
who» out of cunofity as well as bufinefs, had made
an excurfion to America, to fee the ilate of fociety
there; to infpe^ their various manufa£tories> and
particularly the woollen^ with which I was bell ac-
quainted. The General afked me what I thought of
their wool ? I informed him, that I had^ieen fome
very good and fine, at Hartford, in Connefticut,
which they told me came from. Georgia ; but that in
general it was very indifferent: yet from tho ap-
pearance of it, I was convinced it was capable of
great improvement. That, to my furprife, in the
courfe of travelling two hundred and fifty miles,
from Bojfon hither, I had not feen s^x\y flock of more
than twenty or thirty fheep, and but few of thefe;
from whence I concluded there was no great quan-
tity grown in the dates, fo as to anfwer any great
purpofes for manufafture. His Excellency obferved,
that from his own experience, he believed it capable
of great improvement, for he had been trying fome
experinients with his own flocks (at Mount Vernon ;)
that by attending to breed and pafturage, he had fo
far improved his fleeces, as to have encreafed them
from two to fix pounds a- piece; but that fince, from
a multiplicity of other objefts to attend to, they
were, by being negledled, gene back to half their
weight, being now fcarcely three pounds. I took
this opportunity to offer him one of my publications
> ■ .' -■■ ^ • oik
X'
iH
112
EXCURSION TO THB
on the Encouragement of Wool» which he reemed
with pleafure to receive.
Mrs. Wafhingion herfelf made tea and coffee for us.
On the table were two fmall plates of fliccd tongue,
dry toad, bread and butter, &c. but no broiled filh,
as is the general cuftom, Mifs Cuftis, her grand-
daughter, a very pleafmg young lady, of about fixteeUf
fat next to her, and her brother George Wafliington
Cuftis, about two years older than herfelf. There was
but little appearance of form : one fervant only attend-
ed, who had no livery ; a filver urn for hot water, was
the only article of expence on the table. She appears
fomething older than the Prefident, though, I un- ,
derftand, they were both born in the fame year;,
fliort in ftature, rather robuft; very plain in her
drefs, wearing a very plain cap, with her grey hair
clofely turned up under it. She has routs or levees,
(which ever the people chufes to call them) every
Wednefday and Saturday at Philadelphia, during
the fitting of Congrefs. But the Anti-federalifls
objedl even to thcfe, as tending to give a fuper-
eminency, and introductory to the paraphernalia of
courts. ;..■•'.,.* ;■,.-. . -'■;'"'■'•■",• ^ -•)■ "
After fome general converfation, we rofe from
table, to view a model which a gentleman from Virgi- ^
nia, who had breakfailed with us, had brought for
the infpedion of the Prefident. It was a fcheme to
convey velfels on navigable canals, from one lock to
another, without the expence of having flood ^.,,/''' >•••■* ^- '•=.,'-;• '- '^*^
• ' • ■-'--/ :, He
• \
UNITED STATES,
ri5
.1-
He told me twenty ewes had produced him forty-
ithrec lambs lad year. He fays fome of the fouthem
itates are attempting manufaflure, but with little
fuccefs : their habits of life :\rc again A it ; naturally •
indolent, they Icave.every thing to be done by their
flaves. He fays, the planters own, that the work
their negroes do, produces lefs improvement of
capital, than if their purchafe money had been put
out to intereil. This accounts for their being fo
jpeady to come to a rupture with Great Britain, as
they are generally much in our debt, and that
would excufe them from paying. Fond of horfe-
racing, cock-fighting, and other kinds of diflipa-
tion, with a general averfion to bufmefs, they are»
generally fpeaking, in embarraiTed circumllance>»
yet hofpitable to an extreme*
m
M .
is
m
p.
\' mjfr.
1, ■
of
m
Mr. Wadfworth has many (hips of his own ; one,
he told me, was juft returned from an Eaft In-
dian voyage, . > , . . % .
■■;•;.,:/
He recommends to every man comfng out from
England, firft to fee the whole traft of country
from Newbury Port to Ch?.rleIlon, before he fixes
his plan. Many perfcns, to his knowledge, have
embraced the firft promifing oiFer, (which the
•Americans are ready enough to make to every mail
that has money) which they afterwards have re-
pented of and quitted again, at a '^reat lofs. Mr.
Wadfworlh had on a great coat from the Hartford
manu-
I
(I ■
ir6
EXCURSION TO THE
inanufadory» of which he is one of the proprietors?
it was an elallic cloth, very thick, large fpun, aod
batlly drefTed; not near fo good as the fame fort
from England, and much dearer, of courfe. Many
flocking looms are at work at Hartford ; the town
encreafing very faft. Linen-weaving work is fent
from Newhaven to Norfolk ; both are towns in
Conne^licut, forty miles diHance from Hartford.
Mr. W. made me very handfome o^ers to induce
me to fettle near him in a manufactory there. I make
no doubt, I might make fuch a fcheme profitable>
were I to engage in it; but many objections occur
to me: betides the giving up the fociety and friends
I am ufed to, a concern of this kind would require
thrice the exertion and fatigue^, and thrice the
capital ; and certainly were I refolved to leave my
country, I would not embarras myfelf with an en>
creafe of trouble in another, unlefs my circumihuicet
compelled ; and even in chat cafe> there are man/'
other concerns to be engaged in, equally profitable,
without half the capital,..or a quarter of the trouble
and exertion..
# ' ■
The fame day, I went with Mr. Henry, of Man-
chefler, who lodged in the fame houfe, to viiit the
Franklin Library. It is one of the handfomeft
buildings I have yet feen. It is of that beaud-
ful brick which is peculiar to Philadelphia, with
free-ilone mouldings, cornices, and fafcias; two^
Tories high, flat roof,, a Hone baluftrade on the top,
' . with.
' .WJJ l^ uJ
amm m
•UNITED STATES.
"7
^th ornamental urns, five on each fide; about
feventy feet in front, and forty in depth : you enter
it by a double flight of fteps, guarded by a neat iron
railing on each fide, through an elegant portico;
and over the door on the outfide, is a fl^tue of Dr.
Franklin, its founder. It was given by Mr fiing-
ham, the fenator. This Library confifts of near twelve
thoufand volumes : ten diredors and a treafurer are
annually eledledj the former appoint a fecretary
and librarian : the books are lent out of doors, ac-
cording to rules laid down ; and the library is open
from two o'clock till fun-fet, for any perfon to
come and read there for a very fmall fum, this en-
ables perfons in all ranks of life to acquire what
coloured
ftockings, or undrefs.
"5 The room, being (0 wide, will admit two, or even three
.^bl»4o dance at the fame time^
II. No
UNITED STATES.
Mf
11 . No Citizen to be admifllble, unlefs he is Ji
Subfcriber.
12, The Managers only are to give orders to thd
Muiic.
43. If any dHpute ihould unfortanately ari(e« the
Managers are to adjull and finally fettle the
fame ; and any Gentleman refaiing to comply,
becomes inadmiiTible to the future Aflem*
^ Wies of that ieafon, ""
Were I to recommend the moft agreeable lodg^^
^ngs in Philadelphiaf it ihould be Oeller's Hotel*
He offered to lodge and board me for feven dollars a
week, a good table, n^at lodging room, and a plea*
fant, airy fituation: butitmuft not be daring the
fitting of Congrefs, for then it is always full : and
if you want to lounge away an hour, go to Dobfon^s,
the Bookfeller^s (hop, in South-fecond'-flreet ; he is
a very liberal intelligent man, and will inform you
on moft fubjefls ; he came from Scotland to fettle
about twenty years ago, and is now prefident of the
Caledonian fociety. You may alfo find an agreea*
i^ble reception at fiache's, the fon4n-law and fuccef-
for of Dr. Franklin, in Market or High-ftreet,
At Peale's Mufeum, I was entertained for two or
three hours, in viewing his colledion of artificial
and natural curiofities, fome of which Jihall pro-
O ceed
*^
fas
EXCURSION t6 the
ceed to enumerate. It is not yet fo exteniive as the
Leverian Mufeum in London* but it is every day
iincreafing. Mammoth's teeth, found on the banks
cf the Ohio; ieveral of them that I meafured were
fixteen and feventeen inches round; one that wat
broken in two^ appeared of the fame homey fub-
Hance within, fo as to confirm me in the opinion of
its being the real cheek tooth of fome animal now
utterly unknown. Dr. Cafpar Wiftar, profelfor of
anatomy in this city, I am told, has colIe£led a vaft
variety of huge bones of this animal, which he is
endeavouring to fy ftem atife. There were fe veral of
ihofe delicate birds* nefls of which foups are made ;
a pair of Chinefe (hoes, worn by the lady of a mer-
chant at Canton, with whom the^onor traniadled bu-
fmefs, only four inches long ; Chinefe fans fix feet
liighj Afbeilos, found a few miles from the city;
furious and rare Birds preferved in their plumage ;
the red and blue Manakins ; Birds of Paradife, and
Humming Birds, in great variety ; Toucans, with
their remarkable bills; Spoonbills, natives of
Georgia; fiatts of Penfylvania, carrying their
young ; Scarlet Curlews of Cayenne* Sec. ; medals*
/offils, rare and uncommon ; very curious Petrifac-
jdbns, from their catarafls and grottos ; fcalps ; to-
mahawks; belts of wampum, of curious variety;
Indian and Otaheite dreiles ; and feathers from the
JPiiendly Illes,
\r .
2ut
■*«*
tJNlTED STATES,
123
the
'\-
' But what particularly ftruck me at this place, wa»
the portraits (kit-cat length) of all the leading men
concerned in the Ute revolution :— Walhington,
Fayette, Baron Steuben, Green, Montgomery^
Jay; and many others, to the number of thirty or
more ; which after a century hence, will be very
Valuable in the eyes of pofterity.
June 8. I went to Chrift Church ; it was WhiU
funday, and Dr. White gave a fermon on the pow«
ers of the holy fpirit and the nature of infpiration*
It is the general cuflom to preach occafional fermont
on all the calendar and other remarkable days*
Mrs. Wafhington was there, accompanied by her
grandfon and grand-daughter.
-'I
I dined this day with Mr. Bingham, to whom I
had a letter of introduftion. I found a magnificent
houfe and gardens :n the beft Engliih ftyle, with
elegant and even fuperb furnit^ure : the chairs of the
drawing room were from Seddons*s in London, of
the newefl tafte ; the back in the form' of a lyre,
adorned with feftoons of crimfon and yellow filk«
V the curtains of the room a feiloon of the fame : the
carpet one of Moore's molt expeniive patterns : the
room was papered in the French taile, after the
ftyle of the Vatican at Rome. In the garden was
a profuiion of lemon, orange and citron trees ; and
many aloes, and other exotics. There dined with
us Mr. Willings,pr€fident of the Sank of the United-
Ga ' States,
"4
CXCURSION TO THE
f ;■
i
^
States* the father of Mrs. Bingham ; Monf. Cailot,
the exiled Governor of Guadaloupe ; and the fa-
mous Vifcount de Noailles, who dillinguiftied him-
felf fo much in the firfl National ConHituent AiTem.
b!y, on Auguft 4, 1789* by his live propofitions*
and his fpeech* on that occafion, for the abolition
4Df feudal rights. He is now engaged in forming a
fettlement with other unfortunate countrymen* about
jfixty-five miles north of Northumberland Town*
It IS called *' Afylum," and (lands on the eafiern
branch of the Sufquehanah. His lady, the iifter
of Madame la Fayette* with his mother and grand-
mother, were all guillodned* without trial* by that
^ch villain^ Robefpier;-e«
Mr. Willings* fpeaking of the richnefs of fome of
the new foil* aiTured me, he has known lands fown
ten years fucceiTively with rye, and then ten year*
fucceflively to wheat, without any manure whatever
during the whole time* and it never failed of good
crops. But this is not to be underilood as the ge«
flieral cafe. However* Mr. Bingham and his father,
in-law are laying out all the money they can rai&
Jn the purchafe of lands*
* Mr. Bingham told me* that in the year 1783, he
bought a piece of land adjoining to Philadelphia,
for eight hti'ndred and fifty pounds* which now yields
bim eight hundred and fifty pounds per annum*
jUkl be has never bid out twenty pounds upon it :
* forty
4
tNITED STATES*
nS
ling a ^
ibout r
3. he
phia»
yrields
inum*
m it:
£ort/
forty acres of paflure land of his, fatted forty one
oxen in one year for the Philadelphia market, v/ith-
out any corn whatever being given them : this mull
be very profitable indeed: but fuch beef is not
equal to our's. Three houfes are buying up all the
*«
lands in Penfylvania that they can meet with, gi-
ving from three (hillings. and fixpence to feven (hil-
lings (lerling an acre. — viz. Morris and Nicholson--^
Bingkam and killings ^-soid Caxenove and Co, z-
Dutch houfe. ^r I i*-
.^4i>.r
There was a Mrs. Morris, daughter to Mr. Wil*
lings, at dinner with us in fable weeds, having loft her
hufband during the late iicknefs : a fenfible, intelli-
gent woman« who had much improved her mind
by reading. I had a great deal of converfation with
her, and (he gave me many paruculars of the fata]
progrefs of the Yellow Fever, which were very dif-
trefling. The contagion for the /irft month, was
confined to Fore-ftreet, one of the dofeft and dirtied
parts of the city, near the wharfs, and banks of the
Delaware, which is feldom free from diforder ; for
I was ferioufly advised when I was there, (ten
months after) not to go much into that ftreet, for
fear of infedlion. So virulent a diforder there,
however, was fo new and alarming, that people flew
from it as from a plague, and there was fuch a ge-
neral fear of the infedion, that many perilhed,
without a human b'ling coming near to give them
even a drop of cold water. In one houfe, an infant
G ^ wjw-
■ t„
126
IXCURSION TO THB
was found fucking the dead body of its mother*
Women dying in pains of child-bed, not having
any livin,'^ foul to come near them. There waa
fuch a general panic;* and fear of death from thit
malady, that relations appeared deilitute of the
common offices of humanity.
■|
1
The firfl perfon feized with it was taken ill Juljr
97> and died on the 6th of Auguft ; and no public
ftep was taken for the relief of the poor fuiFer-
crst till September 15. I faw the houfeonBuih
HiU> to which the Committee at laft began to re-
move the difeafed. It was an excellent place fov
the pnrpofe, about two miles out of the town. It U
a handfome feat> belonging (I think) to a Mr. Ha-
milton, then abroad on his travels. I never could
get a true account of t^e number that loft their
lives. Some ftatei them as high as fix thoufandf
ethers three thoufand ; but by the Annual Account,
Unce publi(hed, of the Births, Deaths, and Burials of
the Inhabitants, which is here annexed, it appears
that the extra deaths in that year, are three thou-
fand four hundred and ninety-five, or three times as
many as ufual, compared with thofe of the former
year; of which two years the particulars next
follow.
I ,
h
JLiJi
: ^',
VNITED STATE*.
"7
jfLiJfofthe Births and Deaths in the feveral religiouf
Societies in the City of Philadelphia,
Frcm/tug. 1)1792, toAug.lf 1793, ri< Ttar btfurt tbt Fevtr ragtJ»
I Birthi. Deaths. Total Total
NAMES ot he SOCIETIES. >.^jC^n >^.jl^^n Bitthi. Deaths.
Male. Fern. Male. Fein.
5 St. Mary's
I Holy Trinity
German Lutheran Church 244
German Reformed Church 123
Chrift's Ch. & St. Peter's Ch. 90
St. Haul's Church - - - 67
Society ofFriends, or Quakers 169
Catholic
Churches
Firft Prefbyterian Church
Second Presbyterian Church
Third PreftJyrerian Church
Scotch Preflsyterian Church
The AHbciate Church
Society of Free Quaker! -
Moravian Church - -
Swedifli Church . . •
Mtfthodiil Church - ^ •
Baptift Church - . -
Vniverfalifts - - - -
iewifli, or Hebrew Church
octer^s Field, white People
Pitto^ bUck People - •
182
47
30
34
77
%^
4
5
5
*S
2t
15
4
z
81
69
»35
125 128
479
95
45 5'
218
85
9» 76
175
56
18 a6
123
178
66 80
34"
171
90 86
353
24
14 15
51
26
17 24
56
35
23 26
69
82
43 37
59
5
5 3
17
3
% a
7
6
II 7
II
X
4 »
6
26
I£ 14
49
18
9 10
39
18
10 9
33
5
I a
9
I
a X
3
86
124 70
167
71
65 51
140
i6i
140
176
29
4«
8
.t
5
a6
19
19
3
3
194
116
-.•4"'
ja8^ l^^^ 778 719 2511 1497
From Aug, i, 1793, tt Aug. }f 1794, the Tear tbe Fever raged.
German Lutheran Church
German Reformed Church
Chrift'sCh. &St. Peter's Ch.
St. Paul's Church - «
Society of Friends or Quakers
Catholic ? St. Mary's
Churches \ Holy Trinity
Firft Prefbyterian Church
Second Prefbyterian Church
Third Prefbyterian Church
Scotch Prc'lbyterian Church
The AfTociate Church ' "-
Society of Free Quakers
Moravian Ctiurch - -
Swedifh Church - - -
Methodift Church - - -
Baptifl Church - - -
Univerfalifts - - -
Jewifh, or Hebrew Church
Potter's Field, white People
Ditto, black People - -
i5S
70
78
5^
171
100
33
27
29
82
II
3
8
3
12
85
17
3
3
92
67
251
403
379
506
83
179
130
153
77
221
179
155
76
40
46
135
579
236
238
350
140
198
167
240
35
41
25
68
25
69
30
5*
29
89
68
58
79
87
57
161
10
23
18
21
3
7
8
6
9
34
17
17
5
12
5
8
19.
46
50
31
27
34
26
5^
39
35
31
36
4
2
I
7
2
I
3
89
1084
51A
181
72
91
68
139
78a
'309
400
86
474
365
66
99
157
144
41
IS
51
17
96
60
67
3
1598
>59
li^, 123^1 29332059 2379 499a
128
EXCURSION TO THl
During the rage of this diforder, the town was
univcrfally forfalcen, and a great many of the
houfes totally ihut up. It is believed that not half
the number would have died* had not a general
fear and conllernation occafioned fuch a great neg-
leA of the fick and difeafed. The people did not
begin to return into the city till the froft fet in,
which was in December,
The phyficians who have written on this difoider
are much divided in opinion receding the origin of
it. Some fappofe it imported from the Weft Indies
cr Bulam, while Dr. Ru(h and many others think it
originated at home. The following are fome of the
pre-difpofing caufes of this yellow or bilious dif*
order : it had been a very hot fummer ; and from
May f , to September 30, a period of one hundred
and fifty-two days* on eighty feven of them* the
mercury had rifen to 88 or upwards. But what
ftruck me very forcibly* was the fcite of the city it-
felf, which is very low, flat* and marlhy ; and very
little relieved by the frefli evening breezes. When
I was there in June 1794* it ^^' ^^^ ^ marfh covered
with water round the city ; and the thermometer
was at 88, and at the fame time fo dofe, that I
could fcarcely breathe. I felt none of thofe cold
evening breezes which I Experienced at New York ;
and I couLd only relieve myfelf by fitting in my
bed-chamber without coat and waiilcoat* and witil
jny door and window open. • M-vgi «h»
# : . - The
.*
r
•¥
•^
UNITED STATES.
»9
The extraordinary heat of that Aimmer mud nt«
turally have encreafed the exhalations of all the
marihes. In the fouth and middle dates, it gene*
rally occafions a bilious remittent fever, about the
clofe of every hot fummer, to perfons not ufed to
the climate; but this evil, however, is gradually
leifening, in proportion as the country is more
drained and cultivated; fo that the caufes there-
of being removed, of courfe, the efie^s will
ceafe.
For the further information of my readers, I here
fubjoin the account publiihed by authority at Phila-
phia about a year after, "m Poui/on^s Almanac for
the year 1795: _,
W
A brief Account of the Yellow Fever which pre^
varied in the City of Philadelphia, in the Tear
'793- .. ;
* - ■ />
Amon-o the domeftic occurrences that arrefled the
attention of the Citizens of the United States, in the
courfe of the year 1793, the rage of-" The Yellow
Fever" in the city of Philadelphia, deferves to be
recorded as the mod remarkable. The diforder,
didinguifhed by this appellation, is highly contagi-
ous and mortal, and leads in its train all the horrors
of a Pedilence. A difeafe fo dreadful in itfelf, and
fo unufual in thi« country, could not fail to occafion
Q |; , univer^
. 4-
IJO EXCURSION TO THE '
univerfal terror and confuiion during its prevalence^
tnd general curiofity and difcufllon after it had fub*
iided. The public have already been prefented
with the fucceffive publications of Mr. Carey, Mr.
Helmuth, Dr. Naffy, Dr. Cathral, Dr. Carrie, Dr.
Deveze, and Dr. Rufh, and the Minutes of the ac-
tive and ufeful Committee of Citizens. Thefe
produ£lions will tranfmit to pollerity an accurate
and comprehenfive hiflory of the Fever, and throw
the cleareft light upon the future refearches of fci-
Cnce or curiofity. The prefent concife account is
•offered only to thofe who have not an opportunity
of perufing thefe produdlions.
:
■-'-%
The ftate of the weather fome time previous to
the appearance of the Fever, deferves to be particu-
larly noticed. It was, in general, warm and dry,
and feemed to pofTefs a quality that rendered it un-
commonly enervating and depreffing to the human
frame. The feelings and recolledlion of many per-
fons who have been fo fortunate as to efcape the
Fever entirely, or to furvive its attacks, will fuffici-
ently eftablifh the truth of this obfervation. But,
whether the generation of the diforder may be at-
tributed to this cirqumdance, or to exalations from
putrid vegetable matter ; or whether it was gene-
rated at all in this country, is a fubjed on which
Doilors have difagreed, and I Ihall not attempt to
decide. It feems, however, to be agreed on all
hands, that the fenfible qualities of the atmofphere
♦/■
:• * y
i.
<
CNITED STATES.:
>3i
lence^
id fub- .,,
i
jfcnted
♦
y, Mr.
t
B, Dr.
•^
:he ac-
Thefe
»
.curate ^
' , '-^ i
throw
■>
of fci-
: • .' •
)unt is
•
rtunity f
1
» ^
lous to
.
articu-
d dry.
.
it un-
burn an
y per-
>e the
fuffici-
But,
be at-
s from
gene- *
!
which
npt to
on all
fphere
had
1 ■ ..
V
■• A
had a ftriking efFe£t, in rendering the contagioa
Biore or lefs active.
The Yellow Fever appeared in the city of Phila«
delphia about the beginning of Auguft. Dr. Cath-
rail attended a patient at Denny's lodging-houfe, in
Water-ftreet, on the third of Auguft. On the fifth
of Auguft, Dr. Rufh was requefted by Dr. Hodge
to viiit his child. He obferves that he found the
child ill with r fever of the bilious kind, accompanied
v/itK a yellotvjkin, which terminated in death on the
feventh of the fame montht
On the fixth of Auguft, Dr. Rufli was called to
attend two perfons with iimilar fymptoms, and vi-
fited feveral between that day and the nineteenth
following. It does not appear, however, that even
the Phyficians had any apprehenfion of the exift-
ence of a malignant contagious Fever in the city
before the nineteenth ; and, even after that period,
fome of the Profeflion difputed its exiftence. But
the alarm feems then to have fpread pretty rapidly,
for on the twenty-fecond of Auguft, our vigilant
and intrepid Mayor, Matthew Clarkfon, Efq. ad-
dreffed the City Commiflioners, and directed them
to cleanfe and purify the ftreets immediately. On
the twenty-third or twenty-fourth, the Governor
of the commonwealth direfted an enquiry to afcer-
tainthe fads refpedling the exiftence of a contagious
diforder in the city, and the probable means of re<*
• ' jp 6 moving
-;*- .,
»3*
EXCURSION TO THE
moving it. Dr. Hutchinfon> the Phyilcian of the
Port, in anfwer to the firft queftion, ftated the ex-
iftence of an infectious malignant Fever, and the
ravages it had already made within the circle of his
enquiries.* In anfwer to the fecond, he referred to
the recommendations of the College of Phyfician^
refpediing the prevention and treatment of the dif-
order, which were, at the fame time, made public.
■*/(*<
The public calamity was now no longer queilion*
able. Terror, confuilon, and diftra(5tion, fpread
rapidly from breafl to breail, and from family to
family. The Citizens ceafed to regard with pleafure
their f&ats of thriving induilry and flourifhing com«
jnerce. Thofe of them whofe connexions afforded
an afylum, or whofe circum fiances permitted them
to feek one, gradually abandoned the city, and re*
tired to different parts of the United States; and
the horizon of horror feemed to be clofing fwiftly
on thofe who remained behind.
In the progrefs of this fatal diforder, it was ob-
ferved, that the fear of death and the defire of fafety>
predofninated over every principle of generofity,
gratitude and duty. The near approach of danger
feemed to have diffolved the tender connexions of
|>arent and child — of brother and Mer— of hufband
; :V
%'
i
i
* It appears by the regifter of deaths, that about two hundred
l^erfoos had been carried off by the Fever at this time»
'.y^- '_ ■. '^ '-""^" . ,-.- and
■);••
UNITED STATES.
I»
>'
/■.
dred
and wife. That amiable enthufiafm~that heroifm
of affeftion, which, might have been fo confpicuour*
ly difplayed on this occafion, was fought for in vain.
All the charities of human n?iture were contrafted
into a fmall circle, and that little circle was s^lf.
In making this obfervation, which muft be grating
to the feelings of many of my fellow Citizens, I fol-
low Mr. Carey, in his popular Hiftory of the Fever,
As a general obfervation, I believe it is well found-
ed; but, from the mafs of' the people, I have no
doubt a thoufand amiable inftances of contrary con-
dud might be feledled. To detail thefe would be
a moft agrees ' office; but voluntarily ftirinking
from public a ■ ^' fe, or funk perhaps to the filent
grave, what hiftorian (hall enrich his annals with
their virtues ? What penetrating eye has darted in-
to the deferted chamber of difeafe and defpair, and
feen the afFedtionate wife binding the temples of h'er
hufband, or the weeping daughter kneeling befide
the bed of her father ? Amiable fex ! — who know
fo well to rob the barbed fhafts of pain of half their
afperity — your gentle offices, 1 am perfuaded, were
not entirely negledted at this important criiis. But
it is the fate of female heroifm to fpread no farther
than the borders, of their own families ; while the
magnanimity of men is flamped on medal5> and
handed down in records to poilerity*
At this period of total ilagnation of buiinefs, the
weight
••n*
"34
EXCURSION TO THE
weight of the public calamity fell very heavily uppn
the poor. Without the means of efcape, without
refources for fubfiftence, and placed in thofe narrow
•alleys, and crouded and dirty receifes, in which the
Fever raged with i moft deftruftive violence:
fuch of ihem as were not fwept at once into the
grave, were thrown upon the public charity. At the
approach of the diforder, mjft of the Guardians of
the Poor had left the city, and thofe of thpm who
remained, though a£live and benev -'ent, found
themfelves utterly unequal to the additional duties
which now devolved upon them. The neceffity of
an Hofpital for the infeded, was vimmediately felt
and acknowledged, and Bufh Hill, the feat of Wil<
liam Hamilton, £fq. a large and commodious edi-
fice, fituated near the city, but aloof from the
neighbourhood of any other dwelling houfes, was,
after ifome time, fixed upon an^' taken poffeifion of.
To this place the fick were fent, and here they were
provided for and attended. On the tenth of Sep-
^ tember, au advertifement, under the fignature of
the Mayor, announced that the Guardians of the Poor
. were diftrefTed for want of aififtance, and invited the
»'aid of benevolent Citizens. A meeting of the Citi-
^« eens was held on the twelfth, and another on the
'.fourteenth of September. , At this laft meeting, the
' Committee, who rendered themfelves fo eminently
" * ufeful in thcf e times of general diftrefs, were no;ni-
nated. The Committee confifted, orginallyj of
^.iwenty-iix members^ and^ .as neceility demanded
' their
■M^
UNITED STATES,
ns
their immediate organization, they proceeded di-
redlytobttfinefs. Stephen GiRARoandPsTER
Helm offered themfelves as Superintendants to the
Hofpital at Bufli Hill. This dangerous duty they
' difcharged with a zeal and aflivity which does
them the higheft honor, and merits the warmeft gra*
titude of their fellow Cfiizens. Dr. Deveze, a
Phyfician from Cape Fran9ois, and Dr. DulHeld, of
this c'.ty, devoted their profeffional labors to the
fervice of the fick. Under the direction of thefe
Gentlemen, the Hofpital was kept in excellent order*
and furnifhed with every requifite for the comfort
and convenience of the afRifted. Numerous Nurkf
and Afliftants, and three Refident Phyficians, and an
Apothecary, fecured to the patients every benefit of
careful attendance, and immediate medical aid.*
At iirft, as was natural to exped, the Citizens re-
garded the Hofpital with horror, as the promifcuoua
retreat of defpairing victims, who were conveyed
thither to expire at a diflance from their friends.
But it was afterwards regarded as the fafeft afylum
for the infeded, and many perfons who needed not
the benefit of the poor laws, were, at their own re*
quell, removed thither, as to a place where they
might be fecure of every pofilble attention and af«
fiilance.
• Vide Minutes of the Committee, page 5a, the Report upon
the State «f the Hofpital. - ..
'''■■■'" ^" :- . ^ \' ,• ■ Jm
136
EXCURSION TO THE
In^he rapid progrefs the difeafe made, from the •
time the Committee of Health was orgai ized, till
the middle of Odlober, many families in the city, '
of fome refpedlability, --dually fufFered for the want
of menial aid. The W jw Mills's family, in Race-
ftreet, to the number orfeven, were all ill with the
Fever, in the early part of September, and had no •
other Nuife but a black man, who vifited them fre- «
quently every day> but who had other families in the
-fame manner under his care, and was, of confe-
quence, often abfent. The family fufFered extreme-
ly, till a young man, a Nephew of the Widow's,
heard of their diflrefs, and heroically devoted him-
felf to their relief: inftrufted only by his humanity,
he became a tender, faithful, and felicitous Nurfe.
Two of the family died— the reft recovered under
his afFe£iionate care; but, a few days after, and un-
der the fame roof, he himfelf funk a victim to his .
own virtuous zeal. Virtue, wherever it appears*
enobles the pofTefTor, however humble his externail
fituauon may be. This young man's name was
Charles Hal den — he had been an apprentice
to Jofeph Budd, of this city, and was about twenty
years of age. This effort of courageous humanity
deferves the greater applaufe, as he never expelled
toiurvive it. ? .,:
The diforder feema-to have been attended with
the greateft mortality^ between the eighth and four*
. ^ - teenth
*j/-:
■-^ '
,■-*
UNITED STATE*.
»37
teenth of O£lober. The burials, during that in*
terval, average, one hundred daily; and nothing
could exceed the melancholy fituation of the furvi-
vors. Almoft all the oiHcers of government had ,
forfaken the city : above twenty thoufand inha-
bitants had likewiff fled, and near three thouiand
houfes were (h. up. Every day added to the bills
of mortality the names of valuable Citizens, to whom
the People had looked up with eyes of hope and ex*
pedation. Social intercourfe was at an end — the
barred mannon admitted no longer the (leps of in*
quifitive familiarity, or foothing afFedion. The
Citizens turned their eyes, fuUen with continual
grief* diilrefsfully upon every approaching objed.
A friend of mine, who remained in the city^ during-
the whole reign of the diforder, informed me, that,
on the evening of a day in which the mortality
around him had been very great, and feveral Of his
I intimate acquaintances had fallen, he retired to bed
at his ufual hour; but, tortured with melancholy
refledtions, was unable to take any repofe. He
rofe, and throwing up the fafh of a front window,
looked into the llreet. The moon cad her palefi:
beams upon the profpeft, and the disath-like iilence
which reigned around, was interrupted only by the
loud and piercing ftirieks of departing vi£lims, and
the low rumbling noife of carriages removing the
* dead. Sometimes he would fee a fre(h corpfe Alent-
ty let down from a cafement, and^ being placed upoa
ihaftsi
13?
IXdURSlON TO THE
fhaf^s, fall into the long, flow, and folemn marcTf
©fan endlefs train of coffins. What a Ilriking pic*
ture of defolatioi;! did this once chearful and po»
pnlous city prefent I How gloomy to a being fur-
founded with all thefe horrors, and who knew tioft
in what manner they would terminate ! »
'
. '
An affefling indance of accumulated domeflic difV
trefs, is recorded in the Minutes of the Committee^
page 71:
(' ■k-
■ ys fix
feet: on thefe accounts, no common bridge will
Ao, as the abutments could not Hand long ; it is
therefore a floating bridge, which nfes and falls
with the tide, yet is perfedly fafe to the heavieft
carriage^ and is very fimilar to one I defcribed be*
fore, at Nefhammany, in my journey from New
York. It is a difgrace to fo fine and large a city
as Philadelphia, to have fuch bad roads near it : we
could go fcarce four miles an hour, although it is
the month of June. It was, a deep miry clay,
drenched with water, which feems to have no means
of running ofi*^ the country round being fo Hat*
' ' Crcat
%
t4>
EXCURSION TO THE
Creat oppofition has been made to the introduAioA
of turnpikes : the only one yet permitted in Ame«
rica, is now making from this city to Lancaller, a
^iflance of fixty miles« which is but partly efFe£led {
yet the advantages which muft refuh from it, will
|>robably foon make way for others.
r .
On our return to the city, about feven in thd
Evening, the noife of the croaking frogs, and tree
toads, was intolerable, for they abound in the en-
virons of this citf . The ground laid out for halj^
the city, flill remains occupied by thefe croaking
gentlemen : the buildings, as yet, extend but about
iialf way from the Delaware to the Skuylkill.
Tuefday, I was at the houfe where the celebrated
Dr. Franklin lived and died. Mrs. Bache his
slaughter, is a very handfome, pleafing woman: ihe
introduced the Doftor's grand-children to me, one
after the other, pointing to a little boy, that is
reckoned the very image of his grandfather,
"When I was fhewn into this great man's library and
iludy, my fenfations almofl overcame me. In the
toomi hung his pidure, painted at Paris, two years
before his death, which was April 17, 1790. I felt
a glow of enthufiafm grow in my mind, at vifiting
the late abode of this great man. I was now Hand-
ing in his library, the fcene of his vafl labours. I
went from hence diredtly to the fpot where he
laiided« when> with his roU under his arin> he was
firft
. i:
tJNITED STATES,
Hi
Arfl noticed by Mifs Read, who afterwards became
his wife, and walked over the very ground, whicb
he defcribes in the memoirs of his life. '
This afternoon, June lO, very rainy, with thnn-
der and lightning, I went witlf Mr. Vaughan thd
merchant, to Mr. Johnfon, from Bordeaux, in bu«
fmefs, and during our paHing through the Ilreets,
at eight in the evening, it feemed one incefTant
>fla(h : I had never feen fuch lightning before. It
feems fuch Tains at this feafon of the year as accom*
panied it, are very uncommon.
Wednefday, I took a ride over to German Town,
iix miles, to fee a Wiltlhirq family (Mayo) fettled
in that place, who received me very cordially, at
-a very pretty country houfe adjoining to a pleafant
healthy towa. From thence 1 went to fee the falls
of the Skuylktll, didant three miles: very pleafant
<:ountry feats, were on my right and left, as I
pafled. I obferved the ground here full of pieces
•of mic£e or talk« which, as the fun (hone very bright*
flittered ip my eyes at every ftep, like bits of
glafs- or filver rather. This was obferved by thofe
who firft fettled in thefe parts, and from knowin/»;
but little of minerals, they took it for flakes of fil-
ver, and freighted a fhip with it for England, con-
cluding their fortunes made at once: I took up
|>ieces in the middle of the road, two inches long,
and
^44
EXCURSION TO THE
I '
^ .
'.'\
and one irich wide, as thin and clear as fSnl'
glafs : if burnt> I ihould fuppofe it would make «
line manure.
' At the falls. Governor MiiHin has a neat cottage,
to which he is very fond of retiring, when public
affairs will permit him. The falls appear nothing
but an obftrudlion of the rapid ilream, from feveral
large rocks having fallen into it from the neigh-
bouring heights. Skilful pilots know hpw to paft
them in loaded boatSj without danger. '
In the afternoon, Mr, Woolftoncraft, Mr. W,
pj-ieftly, the two Mr. Humphries*, Mr. HoTiry, Mr.
St. George, and myfelf, went to fee the Hofpital,
-with the apartments, for lunatics; the Bettering
Houfe ; alfo the Gaol, where they have lately adopt-
ed folitary imprifonment, with good efFeft. Thefe
iiaving been fo well defcribed in various publica-
tions, I fliall only juft mention their names. I
Jieard at the Gaol, that not ohe in ten of thofe con-
iined, are native Americans. The Gaol feems to
t)e under mofl excellent regulations. , I went into
feveral apartments, and found them neat and clean.
In the upper rooms they were fpinning, and in thofe
under ground there were feveral perfons weaving
linen and woollen cloth. A printed paper was
^iven me while there, of which the following is a
copy:
?^ . ' Direc-
as fSnt'
make «
cottage,
;n public
nothing
m feveral.
t\e neigH-
w to pafs
Mr. W. ^
enry, Mr.
Hofpital,
Bettering
ely adopt-
t. Thefe
public a-
ames. I.
:hofe con-
feems to
went into
id clean,
id in thofe
wcaviag
per was
iwing is a
Direc-*
■.* ■
tNlTED STATES, 0^. 145 .
HireSflonsforthe InfpeSiors^ ^c, of the Gaol oftht
City and County of Philadelphia,
Whbrbas, by a ** Supplement to the Penal
Laws of this State," it is enafted, ** that the Prifon
Infpeflors, appointed in purfuance of the A£l in
fuch cafe provided, and of the faid Supplement, ^
ihall have power, with the approbation of the
Mayor tt'wo Aldermen, of the faid City, and two oftht:
Judges of the Supreme Court, or two of the Judges of
the Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, to make
Rules and Regulations for the government of aU
Convifls confined in the faid Prifon, not inconfiftent
with the Laws and Conftitution of this Common*
wealth."-
// is therefore ordained, that the f»d Inlpe£h)rt,
feven of whom ihall be a quorum, ihall meet at the
Prifon, quarterly, on the firft Mondays in January,
March, June, and September; and on every fe«
oond Monday throughout the year — and, may alfo
be fpecially convened by the Vifiting Infpedtort
when occaiion requires. At their firil meeting they
ihall appoint two of their Members to be Viiiting
Infpeflors, one of whom ihall ferve for one month,
and the bth^rfor two months, continuing to make ii
freih appointment to t^s office monthly.
VIlITtNG INSPECTORS,
^ 'The Vifiting Infpeftors ihall attend at the Prifoa
together, at leail twice in each week, and oftener,
H if
■*'(,■-
r
':
(
■r
EXCURSION TO THE
it occafion requires; at which times they (hall ex-
amine into and infpeft the management of the Pri-
fon, theconduft of the Keeper, Deputies, and Affifl-
ants: They fliall alfo carefully enquire into and re-
port the condudl and difpofition of the Prifoners,
jand fee that they SLreproper/y znd/u^de^.t/y employ-
ed ; that proper attention to cleanlinefs is obferved ;
that due enquiry be made refpeding the health of
• the Prifoners, and that their food is fervcd in quan-
tity and quality, agreeable to the directions of the
Board ; that the fick are properly provided for,
. and that fuitable cloathing and bedding are furnifh-
■ €d to all : They Ihall hear the grievances of the
• prifoners, receive their petitions, and bring for-
ward the cafes of fuch, whofe condudt and circum-
fiances may appear to merit the attention of the
Board. They (hall be careful to prevent improper
^ out-door communications with the Prifoners ; that
tio fpirituo us liquors be admitted on any pretence
whatever, except by order of the Phyfician — That
no intercourfe be admitted between the fexes—
That the regulations of the Board, refpefting the
fliftributibn of the Prifoners, according to their cha-
nafters and circumftances, be attended to — That
proper means be ufed : ) promote religious and mo-
ral improvement, by the introduftion of ufeful
■ books, and procuring the performance of divine
Service, as often as may be. ..
lliey ihall> from time to time, report to the
v.- %■ / " . Com*
UNITED STATES,
«47
Commiffioners of the County, all fuch Prifoners
who have been fent from other Counties, and have
incurred a charge for their maintenance, more than
the profits of their labour will defray, in order that
compenfation may be had as the law dire£ts« ;
T.W.-
, They fliall caufe fair returns to be made. out, and
laid before the board monthly, of all the Prifoners,
their crimes, length of confinement, by whom com-
mitted, when and how discharged, fmce the preced-
be return. »'/ .
They fliall attend to the Keeper, Deputies, and
Afliftants, by obferving thei** treatment of the Pri-
foners, and fuffer no perfons addidled to liquor, male-
ing ufc of profane fwearing, or other improper lan-
guage, to be employed on this duty.
m
They fliall conflantly bear in mind, that all men
are free, until legal proof is made to the contrary ;
they will therefore take care that no perfon is held
in confinement, on bare fufpicion ef being a run-
a>Vay flave ; and thofe perfons who are a£lually flaves,
and not applied for by proper claims, within a li-
mited time, fliall be returned to the Supreme or
other proper Court, for a Habeas Corpus, to remove
them according to law; and generally they fl;all
fee, that the prefent and fubfequent directions of the
Board be carried into effect.
:*
'■ It
H2
KIEPBR
14%
CXCURSION TO THE
I
XEBPBR OF THE PRISON. ^ H
The Keeper of the Prifon, befides attending to
the fafe keeping of the Prifoners, ihall carefully in-
ipeft into thdr moral condud, ihall enjoin a ArlGt
^attention to (the regulations r^lauve to cleanlinefs^
ibbriety, and induftry , and ha careful to avoid that
penalty which is incurred by fufFering a criminal to
cfcape. He ihall alfo, with the approbation of two
of the in(pe£tors, provide a fufEcient quantity of
ilock and materials, working tools, and implements
for the conftant employment of the Prifoners. He
Ihall deliver out their work and receive it from
them by weight
arate accounts for all convids fentenced to labour
:fix months and upwards, in which the expence of
r doathing and fubfiftence ihall be charged, and a
^ f eafonable allowance £br their labour be credited ;
thefe accounts ihall be balanced at fhort periods, in
order that the Prifoner at his difcharge, may receive
. ^e proportion^ if any^ that is due to him. "^
I
He ihall caufe all accounts concerning the main-
tenance of the Prifoners to be entered in a book or
books for the purpoie, and Ihall alfo keep feparate
^ccounU of the itock and mkteriah purchafed by
\ him;
\
«»
ifl*
tJNITED STATESr
^49
&mi ; (hall take proper vouchers wherever money
is expended; (hall regularly credit the materials
manufadured and fold, mentioning to whom and
when difpofed of; and at every quarterly meetings
of the board, (hall exhibit his accounts Mid voucher*
for their approbation and allowance.
'■i'--
TURNKBr.
I *
The Turnkey (hall admit no perfons except the
Infpeflors, Keeper, his Deputies, Servants or Af-
fiftants> OfHcers, and Miniders of JuAice, Coun*
fellors, or Attornies at Law, employed by a PriJoner%
Minilters of the Gofpel, or perfons producing a
written licenfe (igned by two of the faid Infp^£lors ;
and the latter only in his prefence, or fome one of the
0(ficers of the prifon. He (hall prevent the admiC-
iion of any fpirituous liquors or any other improper
article to the prifoners, and on every attempt of
this kind that may be dete^ed, he (hall make dif-
covery thereof, in order that the penalty inflicted by
law may be recovered.
••^
KBEPBR's O2PUTIE89 &C. j
I
The Keeper's Deputies and A(&flants (hall be
careful to preferve cieanlinefs, fobriety, and induftry
among the Prifoners ; to inform them of the Rules
of the Houfe, and to enjoin an obfervance of them
by mild yet firm meafures; they (hall be careful to
* . . H 3 prevent
' »
*>j
^?gf^->T^,.||(^W if 'ii|f>
150
EXCURSION TO 1 HE
III
i
m'
.
preven' embezzlement, walle, 01 dedruflion of im«
plements or materials; they (hall ccnftantly refide
in the I^oufe, and infpecl the conduft and labour of
the Prifoners — report the negliv,ent^ profane, or
diforderly, (who fhall be rimoved) and the induf'
tricus, quiet, and exemplary, thai they may be re-
commended by the Vifiting Infpeclors. who hivc it
in charge to bring fuch to the favorable notice of
the Board, , -
. '•■■.• •-^'"' ■ ' '■ ■"' " ■• .■.■':^'^y^-"
;./,';V Vt'":--^^-.- '■ WATCHMEN. ■ \ ;:\-; ■. .:.'■'
' * The Watchmen fhall continue in the Prifon all
Aight, two of whom /hatJ be within the Iron Gate,
and two in the Inipedor's Room — They fliall pa-
trole the iniide conftantly, and ftrike the Bell every
hour—They HitU report any remarkable occurrence
Qi i:he night to th>3 Clerk of the Prifon, on the fuc«
ceeding day, who fhall commit the fame to writing,
and lay it before the Vifitjng InfpeAors, at their
next meedng ; and as the fafety of the Prifon fb
much depends on their vigilance and attention, it is
required, that no circumflance fhall prevent the
performance of their regular an4 frequent rounds.
Vf
c Signed by order of the Board,
February 26fi7^z,' George Meaoe, Chairman.
* ' ' Approved, John Barclay, Mayor.
*?^..w.>, ' v , ^: ^. Approved,^
w^ •-' — v;' ■•--- y : , ' ^ ■ , ; %
''" . - . - ■' - - M- '
UNITED STATE*.
'51
/ipproveJ, W. ROBERTSON
T.L.MOORE
ON, jun. I Judgea of 1
> Court of Co
> y mon Pleaia
the
Con»r
Approved, Hilary Baker,
, J.M. Nesb
AKER,1
ITT, y
Aldermeuv
Tiiere are, a vaft number of charitable inftitu-
uons in this city, which would take up too much
tiiue here even to enumerate. T ■'.,'
lairman. -- ■
yor- . , 1
■ 'kfi
proved,^ I
.»•
*^**^' '■'■-'•■■• • 1
f
I went into the market frequently, and afked the
prices of all kinds of proviilons. For a round of
beef I was afked fevenpence per pound, equal to
fourpence per pound fterling, but it was not equal
in goodnefs to our's; veal> fivepence currency;
mutton, iixpence; an ox-heart, elevenpence, or
fixpence> halfpenny fterling; for a fine fat turkey*
a dollar; pigeons, very plenty and cheap; pork*
exceeding fine and good, at three-pence-half-penny
and fourpence fterling per pound, v ;
* They bui.i wood chiefly, a chord of which you
may buy from on board (hip, for five dollars, that is,
a pile of logs eight feet long, and four feet fquarc.
There are free negroes always waiting about the
ihips, with little neat faws in their hands, who offer
to faw it up for you, for half a dollar a chord.
I-
M'
r
Pofta'ge of letters is dear at prefent ; you pay for
H 4 a fmgle
15«
EXCURSION TO THE
a fingle letter, equal to threepence for thirty miles ;
under fixty miles, fourpence ; above one hundred,,
and lefs than one hundred and fifty miles, fixpence.
Every newfpaper fent by poll, under one hundred
miles, pays one cent, or halfpenny.
■
The pleafanteil walk it Philadelphia, is the State
Gardens, behind the Fioufe of Reprefentatives. It
is fomething like F.<;nfmgton Gardens, but not fo
large. I had intended to have gone on to Baltimore*
by the ilage, which fets out three times a week for
that place, at nine in the morning, and arrives there
the next day to dinner, diflance one hundred and
two miles; but I was fearful of over-heating my
blood and contradling a fever; for the heat of
the weather, at this time, was almoft infupportable.
Had I gone thither, I (hould have been within forty*
fix miles of the new federal city of Wafhington*
which I wilhed very much to have feen.
t;.
Stages from Philadelphia*
''.,-^
i
l^our Stages every day to Briftol, Trenton^ Prince
Town, Elizabeth Town, and New York. , J/ /.
•■: '• >v .■ ^ ■.■.'■- ■ ■,■■.-. ■' ■•'■''. 'c:'
Two Stages to Baltimore, every Monday, Wed- *
iiefday, and Friday, for one guinea, diftance one
hundred and two miles. From thence to the fede-
ral city of Wafhington, forty-fix miles, to which
place iiom Baltimore, there is a ftage alfo. v
' .. '. ' ' ;• -'^ ,. :>•' One .
VNITED STATES.
*5i
miles ;
indred,.
(pence*
lundred
le State
i^es. It
t not fo
ltimore»
veek for
es there
red and
ting my
heat of
portable,
in forty-
hington*
Prince ^
... .. ■ j,
, Wei- *
nee one
le fede-
which
One
One to Harri/burgh, on the Sufquehanah, (forty
five miles from Northumberland Town) every Wed-
nefday.
One Stage to Lancafter, every Tuefday and
Friday. It is fixty miles on the road towards Har-
rifburghj fare three dollars.
One Stage to Reading* on the Skuylkil, every
Friday, weekly. ^, '.
One Stage to Beth1ehem> on the Lehi River*
through German Town, every day, except Sunday^
at three in the morning. A diftance of about fifty
miles, for which you pay only two dollars. This
place is well worth feeing, from t'k>e peculiarity of
the inhabitants living altogether, as one family. In
their houfe or houfes of induftry, every perfon is
fully employed; the fingle young men in qne houfe»
the iingle young women in another, and the mar-
ried in a third. Mr. Van Bleck, who has the chief
direftion of the whole, will anfwer any enquiries
that may be made about it. ,. w .
-.>L*M.' \-li
■t
Hs
Coim
V ■/■'
«4
EXCURSION TO THE
Coins of thi United States,
^ __gj. r Cent, is i -hundredth part of a Dollar. •
ft \ Half Cent*
* 5
fDolIa;'
Half ditto. -
Silver^ Quarter ditto
Difmes,
I HalfDifrocs,
r Eagles,
Gold < Half Eagles,
^ Quarter ditto.
4s. 6d.
1 If
o 5 & 2-flfths.
o 2f ori-zothofadollar.
10 Dollars> or 45s. od.
5 ditto, 22 6
2| ditto, II 3
The Gold Coin is not to be iffued till the year
1800, when the mint is to be eilablilhed in the new
federal city. . .,
Four days before I came to Philadelphia, there
arrived an embafTy from the Cherokee and Creek
Indians. I faw fome of them, (Flamingo and
Double-head,) walking the flreets, followed by a
crowd of boys. I intended to have got acquainted
with them, and informed them, that I was a fubjeft
of the great King George, on the other fide the
great waters, and that I wiihed to fmoke a calamet
with them, and to have procured a belt of wampum ;
but when 1 heard that Flamingo (the tall, ilout fel-
low I faw) had bragged publicly, that he had in his
time fhed human blood enough to fwim in, I was
fo much ihocked, that I never wiflied to fee them
UNITE!) 8TATM.
»55
any more. They all lodged (about twenty men and
women) in a kind of barn, at the weft end of High-
ftreet, not fir from the new manfion building for
the Prefident. Some of the Indians^ when they can
get ruin, will drink till they fall down fenfelefs on
the fpot, u here they will lie, with hardly any motion,
for ten or twelve hours ; then rife, as if out of a
profound fleep, flill ftupid, and if they can get it^
will repeat the dofe again, till they fall into the
fame fituation. It feems the immoderate and ge-
neral ufe of fpirits, is the greateft caufe of their de-
pop ulation. - , - V' • , ;:
; In the year 1761, the Indians began to be fen-
fible of the bad efFe£ts of fpirituous liquors. At a
Congrefs held at Oneida, September 8, a Sachem^
at the conclufion of the treaty, finiflied his fpeech.
with thefe words: — " We requeft that the great
men would forbid the traders bringing any more
rum amongft us, for we find it not good; // deftroji.
our bodies and our JouU*^
About four years before this, a Mr. Eleazcf
Wheelock, and fome other pious minifters of the
gofpel, attempted to convert thefe Indians to Chrif-
tianity, and eftablifhed an Indian fchool, at Leba«
non, in Connefticut. Among others, the famous
Jofeph Brant was educated by him, who came over
to E gland about ten years ago. But the Indian
naujns foon faw how little better the Englifh them-
H 6 felves
'/ :. ■ /
I56, EXCURSION TO THE
felves were for being Chriftians, and they left oft
fending their children for education.
Two days after my arrival, 1 called on Mr. W. B.
Grove, Member for North Carolina, at Fran-
cis's Hotel, by recotnmendation of Dr. Smith, of
Prince Town, refpefling the college going to be
erefled in North Carolina, (thirteen miles fouth of
Hillfborough, and twenty-five*iniles from Rawleigh,
the feat of government) the prefidency of which
• was intended to be offered to Dr. Priellley ; but as
Dr. P. had informed me he had made up his mind
to accept of no public employment whatever, the
purport of my vifit was, to engage it, if poiHble,
for a friend of mine in England, who had re-
quefted me to look out for fuch a fituation for
him. ■ -. . "■• ; ■ ^ ■'. ■',•'<■•
- ■ • ,' ■ .' ■ .>
" .Mr. Grove received me very cordially, and in-
troduced me t& Mr. Macon, his brother member,
with whom I fpent an hour or two very agreeably.
In the courfe of converfation, I faid, I hoped their
legiflature would not vote a war with Greajt Britain,
for the errors of our miniflry, for I could afTure
them, the nation at large, were friendly and well
difpofed towards them. ** Why do you then fufFer,*'
fays he, impatiently, *' your miniftry to a£l as they
have lately done ? Why do n <: you bring them to
account, or turn them out?" <* You may do it,*'
faid I» <' in your country^ but it is a matter of fome
. .- •' v ■ difficulty
^. •
UNITED STATES. I57
difficulty with us. Had Lord North and his col«
leagues* that involved us in a ruinous war with yoa»
been brought to public juftice, our prefent minifters
would not have been hardy enough to have gone
the lengths they now have done. But they know
too well they can do it with impunity. Befides*
they have the art of bringing over, from time to
time, the leaders of the whig interell, fo that the
people begin to diftrud all great men, as only
Tiding with them till the Miniiler bids to their
price
>»
v#
I ufed to think Walpole*s aflertion, •* That every
man had his price," was too fevere a fatire on man-
kind ; but from io many recent inilances of great
men becoming apoftates, I fear there is too much
reafon for the obfervation.
Commend me, however, to honeft Andrew Mar*
vel, dining on his cold fhoulder of mutton, fweet*
ened with the enjoyment of an independent mind,
rather than to honefl Edmund Burke, ruminating
(but not in trope and , figure) over one thoufandtnuo
hundred pounds per annum, out of the civil lifit uvith
t
n . ,AyS.^i'*'.jJ---
r;^ . s «« Senate Chamber, June 6, 1794.
" The Senators of North Carolina cannot
take upon themfelves to give any opinion on the
fubjeft of your letter. They will receive vith plea-
fure any information Dr. Prieflley may honor them
with, , relative to the charafter and qualifications of
the Reverend * * * . They will lay the fame be-
fore the Truftees, at their next meeting, and com-
municate to him their determination thereon. They
can only add, that a recommendation from Dr.
Prieflley, would infure a friendly attention to, and ft
preference foi any gentleman. ^ f
• \
Herf
..#*
h
UNITED ST
S.
«*
»59
V «■;
Here follows an AbJlraSi which I made from a
Manufcript of Mr. Jofeph Priejiley (the Doc*
tor's eldejl Son) of his Obfervations during a
Journey from Philadelphia to the Loyalfoc, on the
Wejlern branch of the Sufquehanahy one hundred
and eighty miles N, W* of that City,
'* December 1^, 17 (fS* We left Philadelphia, and
paffed the Falls of the Skuylkil to Norris Town,fe*
venteen — to Pratt, eighteen — to Pottfgrove, twelve
—and then to Reading, fifty-fix miles from Phila-
delphia. Thefe places are all fituated on the banks
of the Skuylkil. The houfes at Reading are moftly
built of ftone. We crofled the river, and came to
Hamburgh, a town lately built by the Germans.
To Reads, fourteen miles. Here I faw a log houfe,
very neat, with four rooms on a floor ; the infide
work, including doors, windows, wainfcoting, locks,
&c, altogether coft only fever.;;' pounds currency;
(forty-two pounds;) it was tally, and well finifhed.
The outfide work the owner did for himfelf. Ve-
niion is the common food, being in great plenty in
the neighbouring woods.
'.t
«
Sunbury, one hundred and thirty-one miles
from Philadelphia. The land in this neighbourhood
very rich, but not any great quantity of it to be
cultivated, as the town is clofely furrounded by
snoanuins* It fells here from twenty-five to thirty
pounds
■"fx
-V\ 'JMSsii
i6o
IXCtrRSlON TO THE
! !i
if'
I tl:
i
pounds aii acre. [I/uppofe he means currency^ Thc^
prices of grain at Sunbury, are as follow:
Wheat - 5s. od. currency, per bufli. of 6olb.
y Rye - 4 6 ditto.
Oats - 2 6 ditto. , .. ' ^ ' , '
Buckwheat 2 6 ditto. ; ; ■
■' -^L: ..■■'. . . . - W ■ .. • ' - •
•' Beef, threepence halfpenny, currency; vcni-
fon, fourpence; butter, twopence per pound; ]a«
bour, three (hillings- a day ; (one (hilling and nine-
pence three farthings fterling) or three (hillings and
ninepence, (two (hillings and threepence fterling) if
they find themfelves in food. Crops, generally
from twenty to thirty bulhels an acre, \of nubeaty I.
/uppo/e'\ fent for fale ufually to Middleton, (fifty
miles down the Sufquehanah, at it.<^ conHux with
Swatara Creek) at two (hillings and fixpence per
hundred weight (one (hilling and fixpence.) Car-
riage by land from Middletown to Philadelphia, is
feven (hillings and fixpence (four (hillings and fix«
pence) per hundred weight. Cyder of good qua-
lity, fells at Sunbury for three to four dollars a bar-
rel, of thirty-one gallons and a half. Surveying of
land and making the proper return, cofts thirty-five
Ihillings (twenty-one (hillings fterling) per hundred
acres. In clearing of land, you pay thirty-five
ihillings per acre, for grabbing and burning, ex-
clufive of cutting down the trees*
*f Nor»
VNITED STATES. '
i6r
The
f6olb«
; vcni-
nd; la-
id ninc-
ngs and
:ling) if
enerally
uheat, I
(fifty
ux with
;nce per
Car-
shia, is
and fix*
)od qua-
s a bar-
eying of
irty-five
undred
irty-five
ng, ex-
tt Nor*
'• Northumberland, is a town finely fituate at the
tonflux of the eall and weft branches of the Sufque-
hanah, one hundred and thirty-three miles from
Philadelphia. Sunbury and Northumberland may
contain from one hundred to one hundred and fifty
houfes each. A log houfe^ built upon a ilone foun-
dation, having four rooms, (with SoorE) twelve feet
fquare each, with a thorough paiTage, finifhed in the
infide, in a plain manner, will coft two hundred and
£fty pounds currency, or one hundred and fifty
pounds fterling. As an inftance of the rapid ad-
vance of land, we were informed, that the unoc-
cupied lands in this town were offered to fale two
years ago, for two thoufand pounds. This year« the
owner refofed ten thoufand pounds."
Major Platters Obfervatlons^ and Jccotmt of ihs
Country three miles from Middleton, where he
• lives ^ feventyfix miUi N. W, of Philaddpkia^
Firji, That a bed of limeftone was found juft be-
low the furface of the earth> ^1 over that part of the
country.
Second. The winters are lefs fevere there, than on
the eaftern parts of the Hate. In the beginning of
March they break up the ground, and are feldom,
if ever) affet^ed with frofts afterwards.
HWR illlliWpWmUM-WM
rvw«MilW«
.^1
r1
I
(
162
'I
IXGlJRSrON TO THE
Third. March, April, and May, Was generally
fine fpring weather. , . . . , .,- , . ,,
• . . ,-,
Fourth, The crop of wheat there, was about
twenty-five buftiels from each acre, ,, • ,
1 /'•■/>/&» The then prefent price of grain, was as
ibllo^^": : wheat, five (hillings and fixpence, or three
fhiliin ^s nnd fourpence fterling ; rye, four (hillings;
oats, two (hillings and fixpence. Labour/ three
(hillings a day. . . .--'■ .' •.i^:: •'^,^: -
Sixth. That landion the banks of the river, partly
iin proved, fells from three pounds to feven pounds
per acre ; and further back in the country^ at thirty
fhillings on to fix dollars per acre*
Muncy Creek, is one hundred an4 (ixty-two miles
from Philadelphia, a fine (Iream of water $ the lands
on its borders are rich, and abounding with the
fineft of timber. The Sufquehanah navigable one
hundred and twenty miles lurther up, for boats of
ten tons burthen..
.-.Viv*? ■
" - ^.
Whitaker, an inn-keeper'there, gave me the foU
lowing prices: For grubbing, fifteen (hillings an
acre, with two drams a day ; (heep coil from ten
(hillines
UNITED STATES. l6 J
fcilllngs to twelve (hillings and fixpencc (feven
ihillings fterling ;) wool, two fhilHngs and fixpence,
or one fhilling and fixpence fterling; beef, three*
pence halfpenny, or twopence farthing fterling per
pound. Whitaker occupies lands there, under Mr.
Wallis, paying one third of the produce as the rent;
ploughs the ground (three or four inches deep, with
eafe) an acre and a half a day with one team. In
one day, he often cuts down thirty timber trees to
their proper lengths. He fays, that iixteen men
can draw the logs and conftrud a log houfe, with
two large rooms on a floor, and two ftories high>
in a day. A man can grub an acre of land in four
or five days. He valued his houfe (twenty feet by
eighteen) at iixty pounds, or more> i. e. thirty-fix
pounds flerling. ^ ,.
The Loyalfoc (one hundred and feventy-four nules
from P.) is a very broad and rapid flream, running in
a valley or bottom, ten or twelve feet lower than the
refl of the ground; the valley about half a mile
broad, confifting entirely of very rich black mould*
feveral feet deep. The timber upon it is exceeding
lofty and fine, and grows without much underwood.
This kind of land, whether on the banks of creeks
or rivers, is called bottom land. It ts too rich for
wheat, but is excellent for Indian corn, or for
grazmg. fp
Mr. Woolftoncrafc examined the lands of the
,. , weilern
\ •
164-'
EXCURSION TO THPE
I'll
i
1
I
weilern branch of the Sufquehanah; he prefers that
part of the country to ar>y other that he has yet
feen. He defcribes the lands at the head of Muncy
Creek, as beech lands, and the hills, as very fine
lands, even to the tops. Alom is found in this
cointry. He came down the Loyalfoc in a canoe,
ten miles an hour. With refpeft to lands in that
cottar) , he faid, that Dr. Rufh had given him his
chcice of feveral four hundred acre lot, (rich bot-
touk i..
At Sunbury, I met, in my return, with Mr, Wal-
lis, of Muncy. He had lately bought two hundred
thoufand acres upon Toby's Creek, which is navi*
gable into the Alleghany river; and, by a por-
terage of twenty miles, communicating with the
Sinemahoning, and, by that creek, with the Suf*
quehanah. This land he would fell for five ihiU
lings (three ihillings flerling) per acre, ready mo*
ney.
The Sufquehanah abounds with fhad falmon,
roach, trout, chub, fun-fifh, and perch. The lands
produce from twenty-five to thirty bufhels of wheat
per acre. ' ■ •- ■ -|jf ■ v\ ^
Mr. Prieftley met with an ingenious fettler, of the
r ; name
fers that
has yet
f Muncy
very fine
I in thi»
a canoe»
s in that
n him his
rich bot-
mths ere*-
thoufand
along the
Mr. Wal-
hundred
h is navi*
3y a por-
with the
the Suf.
five ftiil*
ready mo«
falmon.
The lands
s of wheat
tJNITED 5TATES.
i6s
\
name of White, who has a diftillery, where he
makes his rye into whiflcey, after the following me-
thod :— To a bufhcl and a half of rye, four quarts
of malt, and a handful of hops, he adds fifteen gal-
lons of boiling water, which Hands four hours ; then
he adds fixteen gallons more; he then adds two
quarts of yeail (made during the fummer, by boil*
ing malt and hops.) It will take fix days properly
to ferment; in winter, feven days. It is now put
into a (till, the bottom of which is defended from
the heat of the fire by a row of pigs of iron and
clay, the flue being carried round the body of the
im, :--x.;- :. ,. .,^^->;-.; ,: , ,.Sv
I .
One bulhel of rye produces about eleven quarts »
)vhich fells at four ihillings and fixpence per gallon.
The walh is good for the hogs.
{N, B, I had copied out, for the Printer, from my
Journal thus far, before 1 found, by looking
into Cooper's Pamphlet, that he had publifhed
ihefe fads already ; I forbear therefore, writing
further, and ihall only proceed to add, from Mr.
PriefUey's Journal^ what Cooper feems not to
iiave noticed.)
• N
ttler, ofthe
name
JnformatiOM
it
•*"p*iipm
166
EXCURSION TO THE
'li
Information refpe^ing Hagar's Town on ihePotomacJty
Maryland fide^ part of thi Shenandoah Valley ^
at the Head of the Waters of Anti^am^ feventy-
five miles from Baltimore^ eighty from Alexandria^
fifty-four from Carlijle^ and one hundred and
* ftxty from Pittfiurgh, ,
Ki B. The following Prices of articles are in fterling Money,
y- ' "* . ' as it was in 1793*
Indian corn, one (hilling and Hxpence a bufhel—
wheat, three fhillings — potatoes, fifteen-pence to
eighteen -pence per bufhel — flour, feven Ihiilir.^sand
cightpence for one hundred and twelve pounds — ap-
ples, fifteen- pence per bufliel — butter, fixpence per
pound — cheefe, fixpence-halfpenny — brown fugar^
nine-pence-halfpcnny — maple, fevenpence — loaf,
iixteen-pence (cheaper when at peace in the Weft
Indies) Port wine, fix (hillings and nine pence—
. Madeira, thirteen iliillings and fixpence. Beer not
much ufed. Cyder, twopence three farthings per
gallon (by the barrel twopence) — mutton, two-
pence— veal,threehalfpence — bacon, fourpence-far-
thing — hams, fivepence- halfpenny. Fi(h, none but
ialted. Fowls, threepence each— ducks, feven-
pencc-halfpenny to eightpence — foap, fevenpence
per pound — candles, fevenpence — wood, a dollar a
cord (a bundle made up eight feet long, four feet
fvide, and four^feet high) — coals, fourteen-penct
per buihe^ dug in the neighboiiihood, none ufed iu
** -dwelling
« \
■V-
->.>. •I.
"UNITED STATES.
167
dwelling houfes. Shoes, five (hillings to fcvcn
Ihillings and fixpence a pair. Of clothing, one
hundred pound's worth in England, is here worth
one hundred and forty pounds. The houfes built
moftly of wood; birch fcantling cofts three-half-
pence per foot, running meafures. Mafons are paid
for builoing brick wall, eighteen inches thick,
fourpence per perch; bricks, three dollars a thou-
fand; window glafs, ten dol ars per hundred foot ;
female fervants, two (hillings a week; male, four
■dollars a month ; — difficult to procure them. ' -
;;;■ •av--;-;,"
%' ■;
> ty"'
The number of inhabitants in Hagarftown is about
two thoufand; a healthy country; a great trade, by
means of the Potomac, with the weftern country.
The inhabitants are chiefly Germans.-"— Here follows
a lift of the trades there: fix working faddler's (hops,
two leather breeches makers, two copper fmiths, ten
blackfmiths, four rifle gunfmiths, two earthen-ware
ihops, two tin-plate workers, fix hatters, five tan-
yards, three blue dyers, (moil of the families make
home>fpun cloth, as formerly in England) one fulling
mill, three nail manufadories.
1
M'
The roads are good in fummer, except where the
lime-ftone makes them rough. A poit to and from
Baltimore and Philadelphia once a week, -. t,* -
"^ ■■"■.
'W^^
The places of wor(hip are— one Englifh Epifcopal,
V..; 'z;:: " ' ' ■ . one
t6S
BXCURSION TO THE
one German Lutheran, one German Prefbyteriaft^
one Roman Catholic. The fchools are — two En-
glifh, one German, and one gir'Ps boarding ichool.
The claffics are not taught ; no library, no book fo*
clety ; one weekly newfpaper, (about two hundred
and fifty copies fold) befides about fifty German
newfpapers from Lancafler, every week, and fifty
Baltimore ones. Soil, a dark loam, fix inches thick ;
the wood, oak, bbck and white hiccory, walnut,
and wild locuil. Cattle require fodder from No-
vember till April. Price of eilates, when about
lialf cleared, from fixteen to twenty-four dollars an
acre. A good working pair of oxen, twelve pounds ;
cows, in the fpring, foon after calving, three
pounds ; horfes for the plough, fix pounds to eigh-
teen pounds ; fat fhee^) , ,G .teen or eighteen pounds
to the quarter, abo"i twt' /e fhillings ; a cart for
two horfes, five pounds > waggon, fifteen pounds ;
hay, thirty fhillings a ton, of either timothy grafs,
or clover, delivered in the'town, ^ . ,
I
The buHdings necefTary on a farm there# are a
barn, a fmall warehoufe, or crib, (for they grow but
little Indian corn) flables, , and cow houfe« Thefe
two lafl are generally under the bam, and built of
Stone, There is ^ county tax Jot roads, amount-
ing to two fhillings and threepence on fixty pounds* ^
.-'i^--'
Jnformatm
VNITED STATES* 1*
!«,
riaft»
En-
hodl*
kfo-
[idred
rrman
I fifty
thick;
/alnut,
1 No-
abottt
lars all
>ounds;
, three
to eigh-
pounds
art for
jounds ;
y grafs,
e, area
TOW but
Thefe o
built of
amount- ^
)oand»«%
formtuion
Jnformatlon refpe6ling the Counties of Frederic and
Berkley^ in yirginia^ (part of the Shenandoah
Valley) taken at a general Meeting of the In*
habitants^ at IVincheJier and its vicinity^ ann§
1793-
Market at Winchefter twice a week : a confta "
variety of batcher's meat in feafon ; pouUry and ve-
nifon in great plenty; pork fit for faking} and ba«
con; good water found every where ; Indian corn«
at eighteen-pence Ilerling perbufliel; oats on aver-
age, at fifteen. pence; wheat, two fliillings to three
ihillings ; barley eafy to culiivate, but little in de-
mand ; (cyder and whifkey being the common^irink ;)
rye, two Ihillings and threepence ; potatoes, fifteen-
pence halfpenny per buihel; wheat flour, feven
ihillings and fixpence for one hundred pounds; ap-
ples, of fine flavour, and in great plenty, nine-pance
per bufhel, at the fall, and from fourteen-pence to
eighteen-pence halfpenny after Chriilmas; peaches*
one ihilling and fixpence to three (hillings a bufhel ;
butter, fourpence halfpenny to feven pence; cheefe*
foarpence halfpenny ; country made honey, three
(hillings and ninepence a gallon; cane and mapic
fugar, eightpence to ninepence per pound ; Lifbon*
iufajQiiUings a gallon ; fhcrry, fix fhillings and nine*
pence ; Port, feven fhillings and fixpence ; (beer,
none made) London porter, twelve fhillings a dozen ;
Philadelphia porter, nine fhillings ; old cyder, fe«
I ven
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
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1.0
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1^ 1^ 12.2
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1.6
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^
Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580
(716) 873-4503
iP
<>
'•b
4^
v..
%
^
i^ ftXCURSION TO TH«
'Ven IhiUuigs and fixpence a barrel of thirty gallons;
<*-new, four ihillings and iixpence ; muttons pork*
wejoion, two-pence farthing per pound; falmon,
ibrty-five ihillings a barrel; ducks, four (hillings
and iixpence Jto &x ihillings and ninepence a dozen;
^eefe* thirteen-pence halfpenny to eigbteen-pence a
piece ; turkeys, thirteen-pence halfpenny to twenty-
two pence halfpenny a piece; wild turkeys, two
ihillings and threepence ; pheafants, fourpence half-
|>enny-; partridges, ninepence to twelvepence per
^ozeni candles^ mnepence per pound.
liodglng and "board in the town of Winch efier,
from twelve pounds to twenty^two pounds ten fhiU
hngsfer/um.i ditto>in the country, from nine pounds
^io thirtem pounds ten ihillings ; wages to honihold
'iervants, eight pounds; to female, ibur; landthere«
' 28 from iifteen ihillings to feventy-five ihillings an
acre, ^nd iliil riiing ; working oxen, nine pounds
a pair, (or forty dollars;) a good cow and calf«
three pounds; a plough horfe, (even pounds ten
ihillin|[S to thirteen pounds ten ihillings; waggoa
hotfesj frfim thirteen pounds ten ihillings to twenty-
fey^n pounds; iheep, from fix ihillings to nine ihiU
Jings ; lambs^ a dollar a piece ; hay, thirty ihillings
in town^, and twenty-two ihillings and iixpence in
ihe country ; fize of eflates, from fifty to two thou-
fand acres^ The maple fugar tree not cultivated.
Market for produce is Alexandria, on the Poto-
' tnac; wagigons will take a hiarxel of Qoat, weighing
UNITED STATES.
»7i
gallons;
1, pork*
falmon*
(hUlVngs .
a, dozen;
i.petice a
o twenty-
keys, twd
>encc half-
pence pa
vne hundred and ninety-Hx pounds, for five fhillingt
and ninepence ; the dlftance is eighty miles. Floor
fells here at twenty (hillings a barrel.
In 1741, the only towns of note m Maryland^
v^ere Annapolis, Chefler, and George Town ; the
latter place, in 1736, had but fifteen houfes; ia
four years, they increafed to feventy; Baltimore
then had not a being ; in 1795, ^^ ^^^ ^^^ thoufand
houfes, one hundred and fifty-itwo (lores, or ihopit
and eleven thoufand inhabitants.
Winchefter,
:ids ten Ihil-
nine pounds /
J to honflipld
; land there,
{hillings an
|nine pounds
tvv and cau»
pounds ten
kgs; waggo*
igs to twenty-
rs to nine Ihil-
[hirty ihillinS*
.d fixpence in
to two thott-
(t cultivated.
OB the Poto-
ir, weigl^ing
Taken from Mr, Toulmin*s 'Journals
A gentleman of Virginia means to fix all his foaa
in Kentucky, not doubting but that it will be the
4rfl in the Union. This peffon took fervants thither*
hired a waggon with four horfcs and a driver, front
Fredericlburgh to Red Stone, for eighteen pounds
£fteen (hillings, in which he took two thoufand
pounds weight of goods, and the children of his '
ilaves ; at Red Stonc^ he purchafed a boat for (iz
pounds nine (hillings j in which he carried down the
Ohio river, thirteen horfes, twenty-one negroes* .
thirteen white people, and one hundred pounds
worth of bulky articles. No diilin£tion a(rumed
on account of rank or property. A general attach-
ment to the federal union; but a jealoufy of the
monied intereft of the Northern ftates.
*„
I 2
#
Ba£[«
-(.- -^^
*7»
EXCURSION TO THB
Bofinefs conduced at popular aiTeinblies with re«
jgularity and propriety ; no fymptoms of ariftocra*
tical influence* but a prevailing jealoufy of a man of
large fbrtune«
, ^^(
A candidate for an office will ibmetimes canvafs*
l)ut the reputa-uon of an opponent will often obtain
a vote in preference. EledUons conduced very
quiet — feldom any diforder. No expences attend
fhem. All males, from fifteen to forty-five, liablt
to Serve in the militia.
, A. gentleman ufed to fend every year for la«
, l)0urers from Scotland, and indenture them for five
y«ars« who all in the end obcaiiied plantations for
themfelves. Price of land depends on foil and
ixinvemeace to market. They are moft of them
-jrery iadi^erent ploughmen. . ' ^'
In the Gfc.-.w^i'ee country, have lately been dif-
covered two fulphur fprings. Before this> it was
^e^^v^rsilly fuppofed there was no mines of fulphur in
gmy part of the United States: there has alfo been
ibme alum difcovered on the banks of the Potomac
jriver above the federal city.
*;{ Obfervaiiom on the City of Philadelphia.
All the flreets run parallel* oi* crofs each other at
light angles. > ' .^ •
imiTED STATW*
17J
vith re*
•iftocra-
, man of
canvafs*
in obtain
led very
;s attend
re, liablt
x for la*
m for five
tavions for
foil and
[ of them
been dif-
his, it was
"ulpbur in
alfo been
te Potomac
Iph
ta.
r.-'n.
^ch other at
Almoft
illmoil every hoafe of trade has an afcent of ftep»
to enter, and a Hoping, cellar window or door, to xt>
ceive goods, &c. . -^ - .^
Many houfes five, fome fix (lories high ; all Toof-»
cd with ihingles, i.e. with pieces of oak, of the
ihape of tiles, but twice as large. The houfes (at
leaft the modern ones) built of brick.
\
High-fireet, is the widefl flreet, and is about the
centi-e of the town, reaching from the river Dela**
war, nearly two miles towards the Skuylkil f it ir
forty yards wide, and down the middle of the flreet
is a market houfe, thirty feet wide, and half a mile
long; in one part of it is the i|iambles» another^
poultry and garden-ftufF, 5bc. Here you can have
a good long walk in all weather^ and here it war
(being oppoiite Dr. Franklyn's houfe) where he
afed to walk moft evenings in the early part of hi»
fife. •^- ■■■•■• ''«■ —-v ..,.■ •- •- ■--. ^, ■
^ There is a public pump ereflfed in all the principal
ftreets, at every interval of thirty yards.
No flaves allowed here, butmoflofthefervantf
and labourers are free negroes.
A great many Germans fettled at Philadelphia ;
on the figns over their (hop doors they have their
names and trades exprefied both in Englifh and
I y German
»74
EXCURSION TO THB
German text, viz, Alleyne Innis, Hat Maker.
A tax on dogs and one horfe chairs> five (hillingfii
per axn*
• . Executions feldom happen here. A law pafTed
laft feffion, that nobody fhould undergo the puniih*
tnent of death, except it be for murder.
More thunder and lightning here in one week
than in England a whole year. -
Very little card playing in this city ; they ofleft
make viiits without introducing them ; yet £nglifl»
cuftoms and manners generally prevail : the ladies
in veiled bonnets, carrying large fans, like the fa*
ihion of laft year in England : the gentlemen ^th
round hats, ihort canes in their hands, their coat*,
in the Englifh tafle, and wearing pantaloons.
■t-y-i'i .-.»
Schools for genteel female education fcarce snd
much wanted, as Mr. Hamilton told me.
■ \ •,
Houfe flies very numerous and troublefome in the
liimmer months ; and the croaking of the bull frogt
very loud and difagreeable in the environs of the
city.
•N
The weather very changeable s Fahreinheit's
ther.-
-t.,.-*
UKITED STATES*
17s
thermometer was at 95, July 2, 1792* and the next
and May 31, at g\ ; January 23, at 14, aiid
January 31* at 39; thu is very different from Brif*
fot*s account of it; but thefe extremes are obferved
to leiFen every year, as the back country becomes
more cultivated.
Philadelphia was incorporated in the year 1704
In 1790, it wns found to contain 6,651 houfes, and
42,520 inhabitants, but a great many new houfet
have been built fince that time, and it is fuppofed
there are now more than 50,000 inhabitants. '
Smith is fo common a name m Ameiica, that in
Philadelphia alone, there are eighty-iix trading
houfes of that name.
•%
Butter, from fifteen-pence to eighteen-pence per
pound^ and not very good, . . , .
Harrowgate gardens, two miles diftant on the
New York road, and Grey^s gardens on the SkuylkU*
are the two tea-drinking places for the cit$« Ul^$
Bagnigge Wells* and the lilington Spa.
At leaft one out often that I met in the ftreets was
a French perfon, wearing the tri. coloured, cockade*
the men with them in their hats, (he women on th^
lMreails«
. ' '■ ^■.. The
«/
176
EXCURSION TO THE
The date of fociety feems here to be very fimiUr
to that which, in England, is found at Briftol, wherct
there is an intermixture of Quakers, except that
card-playing is not fo frequent. Tiie women marry
▼cry young.
The chief revenue of the United States arifes not
from internal taxation, which is very light, but from
tiie duties on the imports and tonage ; thefe in the
year 1789, amounted to 1,467,080 dollars, and in
1795, $3500,000 dollars.
So light are their taxes, that all the inland duties
together do not make more than a feventh part of
the national revenue^ A gentleman at N^w York
told me, that all the taxes of every kind levied on
hU houfe, which he rented at two hundred and ten
pounds per annum, amounted to no more than fix
yound five killings, ;_/jj- -
The national debt of the United States amounted
to about fixteen millions fterling, or 76,096,469
dollars, which is fuppofed to bear far lefs proportion
to their national wealth than our*s, not even a fourths
fnd is every year lefiening that proportion.
The annual exports a few years fince, amounted
Co only feventeen millions of dollars ; in the three
fttcceeding years> they were nearly as follows, viz*
. * -V twenty-
UNITED STATBSi
m
fWenty-one« twenty-fix, and thirty-three nillionn'
For the year, ending in September, 1795, the]f^i
amount to nearly forty -eight millions ; fo that in
the ihort fpace of five years their value ha» trebled,
and tfven their aftual quantity has been greatly;
augmented. ,
The Englifli are apt to think of General Waihing«r
ton as the Greeks did of HeAor—
*' When Heftor falls, then Illon is no more/
,1^ '-vi*
I was much of that opinion myfelf, before I went tO»
America, but I now think otherwife; their govern-
ment is of that mild excellent frame as to require in
the executive power not great abilities, as the com*
plicated affairs of Europe do, but only a cool judg-
ment, and a flownefs to ad. If America avoids war
and interference in the politicks of Europe, nothing
can hurt her. The fpi ' obferved in their political
clubs and felf- created foc^eties will do no material
mifchief ; it will only keep them from falling into
that fupinenefs and pallive acquiefcence to the mea-
fures of miniflry, which have been fo fatal to the
liberties of the people in other countries. The
warm animated difputes between the plebeians and
patricians in ancient Rome, was the foundation of
all its greatnefs, and fo, in my opinion, will be the
fparrings between the federalilts and the anti-fede-
raliilsj at leail it will not clog the government. A
J 5 vigorous
ii'^-
Hj3 . EXCURSION TO THE
vigorous executive power is unneceiTary in dates like
thofe of America. ^
Being in company, at Francis*s Hotel, with Mr.
Grove, and feme other members from the fouthern
ftates, I argued as forcibly as I could agaihft the in-
jullice and impolicy, in cafe of a war between the two
countries, of fequeftrating or attacking the property
of our countreymen lodged in their funds, upon the
good faith of their public fecurities. Mr. Grove
fmiled acrofs to one of the gentlemen oii the oppo-
lite fide, and faid, I might fatisfy myfelf that fuch a
neafure would never be adopted, however it might
have been threatened.
* When Mr. Dayton's propbfed refotution for the
^fequellration of all debts due to Britifli fubje£is, was
"nnder debate, Mr. I. Smith quoted a writer upon
'the law of nations, j unifying all reprifals upon the
cffe£is of individuals of the aggreiTing nation indif*
criminately, except fiock in the public funds, Mr.
Giles, however, was of opinion, that there could be
no rational diftinflion in' principle. Mr. Swift ac-
knowledged, on the ^ril view of the fubje£t> he had
been inclined to favour the propofition, but on more
mature deliberation, thought it a direct violation of
the law of nations.
" If, however, America fliould be bold enough^ in
<^afe of hoftilities with Great Britain, to violate her
' pubJic
VNITED STATES.;
»7»
public faith, by fequeftring the private property of
individuals, depofited bona fide in her funds, (he will
highly difgrace herfelf, and American faith will
become as infamous and proverbial as Punic faith.
Mr. Grove introduced me, one day, at the State
Houfe, to Colonel Parker, the Member for Virginia*
who after fome little converfation, gave me an invi-
tation to return with him, and offered, upon the ad-
journment of Congrefs, which was to be the next
day, to take me with him, in his chariot, to Nor«
folk, and ftrongly preflfed me to fettle there, and
cflabliih a manufactory, and that I might have the
nmrk of the Jlaves almoft for nothing. As I am
fpeaking of Virginia, I would here inform mf
reader, that there is a parilh in the county of Weft«
moreland, called Waihington, as long ago as 1720 or
30, before the Prefident was born, his family hav«
ing come out of England (Lincolnfhire I believe)
about 1657, and fettled in that part of Virginia.
There is a pariih in England, called Walhington,
fomewhere in the county of Durham, from whenc9
the family probably originated.
• /
*^ ■■'-*,■ .
Return to New York.
i^'
^mfl-
1 stT out on my return to New York, from the
Indian Queen, No. 15, South-Foarth-ftreet« at three
i8o
EXCURSION TO THE
in the morning. The ftnge is to take us thither in
me dajTj t diftance of more than ninety-two miles.
The only paflTengers at fetting off, were, Mr. W.
Prieftley and myfelf. It was a fine ftar light morning
when we paiTed through the environ Kenfington*
and in the firft hour we reached Frankfort town-
ihip. In crofling the bridge over Penrtipack Creek»
our horfes, full of fpirit, took fright, and were very
near leaping the battlements of the bridge, which
are very low. At fun rife we reached the Red
Lion. The Hoping ground here, forms a beautiful
iituation for a gentleman's country houfe, on the
banks of the PoquafTmk Creek. From this place,
a road runs diredly north to Warminfter and Ha-
tefborough, which former being, the name of my
native place, in England, I wifhed very much to
have vifited, as probably fome people of that town
Slight have fettled there, and named it, in compli-
ment to their own native place.
I have obferved that no mufquitoes had yet ap-
peared at Philadelphia, notwithdanding the exceflive
heat, although I had before found them in great
plenty in the neighbourhood of New York, i, ,
At fifteen miles from Philadelphia, we palTed a
burying ground* dofe to the road fide : I faw na
houfe or chapel near it. It is a fquare of thirty
yards, enclofed with a ilone wall, and here four
•or five families bury their dead> without any fu-
neral
^ VIIITED STATES.
i9i
nerat fenrice whatever over the corpfe^ ts I was
informed.
We pafled a fmall trafl of land, of abont ten acret^
that was lately cleared. Only two months before*
it was a thick wood. The trees had been firft gird-
led, that is, the bark cut away in a circle round each
tree, which prevents the afcent of the fap, and kills
them fpeedily. A dextrous woodcutter (the Con-
necticut men are famous) will in three months, cut
and clear three acres, and fplit up the wood into
rails for fences : he will contract co do it at twenty
Shillings currency, per acre, or twelve (hillings fter-
ling. They next burn the old Aumps, with a fire
made round each with the fmall wood, which kills
its vegetation. In this operation they had been
lately engaged. By July 1 6, buck wheat will be
fown there, which will be fit to reap about Novem*
ber I ; after which it will probably be ploughed up»
and fowed at once to whe^t. A man's pay here, is
half a dollar a day, and his keeping. If the ground
ihould prove too luxuriant for wheat, then rye is
fown, which is an excellent grain, they fay, to clear'
the ground. ; ■'
We now travelled eight or ten miles along the
banks of the Delaware, to Briflol, and then to^. i,
Trenton, to breakfaft, which is about thirty miles'
from Philadelphia. I went to the Printing OiHco
•i' , there, . ;
1 81
EXCURSION TO THE
there, and procured a quantity of old news ^papers ;.
among the reft, feveral Kentucky o: es, which were
very amufing and novel. I read feveral abfurd and
idle ftories abdut the ftate of the war in Europe^
and its events, which were much exaggerated, as
may be partly fuppofed, in pafling to fuch a remote
part of the world. They are hungry for news, and
the printers know their ftomachs will fwallow any
thing. Here we took into our vehicle two yery
fmart young women, who were going to a country
dance, about ten miles off: they were charming
company, very facetious, innocent, and modeft with*
al, and we were very loath to part with them.
..'•
I muft, however, go back to mention that I en»
quired the price of provifions at Trenton, and found, .
diat beef fold that day for eightpence per pound*
or fourpence halfpenny fterling ; mutton, fourpence
(twopence halfpenny ;) veal, fourpence; (twopence
halfpenny.) This was dearer than common, on
two accounts : the great quantity lately bought up
for exportation, upon taking off the embargo;
and the afTembly of the ftate being then iitting at
Trenton.
/
The natural wood of this traft is oak and chefnut,
and many of the butternut trees; a few trees of the
catalpa, planted for ornaments before the houfes,
the fmell of whofe leaf refembles coffee. I have as
M },.
^ /
UNITED STATES.
»83
yet feen no elm in America. Fern is feldom or ne-
ver feen here, but I have heard there is fome found
in the neighbourhood of Boflon. i . , ^v
Near Princetown are large plantations of the
Italian mulberry tree, for the culture of the filk •
worm. Some of the farmers greatly objeft to thero^
as interfering with more ufeful domeilic occupa-
tions, and encouraging too much habits of idlenefs; . ^
At Milflone Creek we paifed Kingftone, a fmall
Icattered village, or townfhip, with fcarce three
houfes in light together. The roads very rough
and ftony. v As we approach New Brunfwick,
we defcend a long gradual hill over a plain, and
the town appears fimilar to the entrance of Aires*
ford from the city of Wincheller. On the right
fide of the town I faw the large extended barracks -
which were formerly occupied by lord Cornwallis
and his troops, who were ftationed here during three
winter months. Here we dined, and then croffed
the Rariton River in the ferry. The bridge of five
arches which had been carried away by the late
floods, had now ten or twent) men at work upon it,
(or in boats) repairing it. We next came to Pif-
cataway, through a very poor fandy foil. The land
here may be bought for lefs than five pounds an acre.
I faw a few crows fly along, which were the firft
and only ones I obferved in America. Rooks they
have
»■. M >,
V 1
tt4
EXCURSION TO THE
have none^ as I am told. I fliould fuppofe it woulS
be well worth the attention of their government to
import the breed, as the country abounds (o much
with infefls, worms, and reptiles. A farmer, in
England, who deflroys or drives them from his
eft^te« finds a great difference in this refpe^, far
more than the value of v^'hat com they eat. The
magpie is a bird not known there. Of fome kinds
of birds they have great plenty, fuch as robins, fwaU
lows, cat birds, and king birds, or men of war, a»
Ijome call them. .
J0t
'■■'*u
We now pafTed a road, branching off to our right*
to Amboy and Sandy Hook ; and foon after reached
Woodbridge. While they changed horfes, I went
jound to furvey the houfe.and garden, and found a
weaving ihop, where two men were weaving linen-
fiieeting, out of flax raifed and fpun by neighbour-
ing families, who brought their yarn to them to
make it up into cloth. Thefe men told me they
could weave fourteen yards a day of yard-wide*
jheeting; it was not very fine, as may be fup-
pofed. Five miles further on, we pafTed a faw
mill* on Raway river; a very profitable erediion in
every flate, if fecured from the effefts of fudden
floods, very common in this country, to the ruin of
many a once profitable concern. We flopped at
at the Wheat-flieaf to water our horfes, and proceed-
ed over a very unpleafant country till we reached
pUzabeth Town; a very low ri(uation> near the
'"■ ' . . . marfh^s.
VNITED STATI9* "*
f9jf
marfl^es. Governor Livingfton has a country feat^
about half a mile to the left, on an eminence.
Three miles further, we pafled a large Baptid
Meeting Houfe, flanding alone on our right, and
then came to Newark/ about five in the evening*
The weather had been uncommmly hot, and I felt
Biyfelf fo uncomfortable, that I was glad here to
quit the Aage, and flay till the next day. I opened
my portmanteau and changed myfelf,and having nowr
got a comfortable difh of tea, with plenty of good
cream, at the Hounds and Horn, kept by Archer
Gilford, I was fo well refrefhed as to walk over
evtry part of the town : the ftreets of which are
▼ery wide, with the houfes feparated from each
ether by gardens and outlets. It is fo increafed a»
to have doubled its inhabitants within the Isft ten
years, and the land rifen in value from ten to thirty
pounds an acre. A large manufactory of leather
and ihoes, carried on here. There are four meet-
ings or churches, one of which is peculiarly elegant^,
with a handibme fpire, two hundred and two feet
high, ninety-feven long, and iixty-fix feet in breadth,^
built of vAone. Near the top is a gallery on the
outfide, from whence you have- a beautiful view of
Staten and Long Iflands, Hudfon*s River, Newr
York, &c. &c. A large brick building is now
eredting here for a grammar fchool; one large
apartment in it is already opened, for the youth of
both fexes to meet and learn to fing. As night fet
y^^^' ' '^ in,
%
^ ..
m
IXCURSION TO THE
Mm-
in, the fire flies aiForded conllant entertainment m
my walks. The next morning I went a mile out o£
the town, to fee the new bridge over the Pofaick^
•rented to avoid the frequent difagreeable delays at
this ferry. It is neatly framed of wood, with 3
draw bridge to let the fchooners and other \effe\s
pafs. Another bridge of the fame kind is going to
,be erefled over the Hackinfack, which> will be a
great convenience to travellers to and from New
York, and places adjacent. I remarked fome very
beautiful elevated fituations for houfes, not yet oc-
cupied. On the green,, adjoining to' Newark, is
lately erefled a high pole, lurmounted with the cap
of liberty. Hearing there was a meeting of the in-
habitants, I followed the croud into a large towa
hall, where I found them debating about the meani
and ordering the commemoration of July 4, then ap*
' preaching, (the asra of their independence.). It was
determined there fhould be a proceflion to church,
and a fermon preached on the occafion, but as to a
feaft, it was decreed, that every perfon fhould do as
they liked beft Beds were fo fcarce at the inn,
^at two of us flept on the floor of the large parlour.
/ The inns are in general very fmall, travelling not
having been very frequent till of late, and the
houfes built only for private families. I went next
morning to an exhibition^ of wild beafls, among
which was a bufl'alo, jull brought from Kentucky; it
refembled an ill ihaped cow, and of the colour of
an afs. There are four or five pod chaifes kept in
-■ ^ this*
■#:•
VNITED STATE*. 1
««7
tlnfr place, and a multitude of one-horfe chaifes,
which pay, I think, five (hillings a year tax to the
ftate of New Jerfey. There is a ftage every day in
the fummer, which fets out at fix o'clock in the
morning for New York, from Archer Gifford*s,
(fare three ihillings currency) and returns again td
dinner, about three. It pu^s up in New York, at
the corner of Cortland-flreet, and Broadway^ It is
very convenient for thofe who live at Newark, and
carry on their bufinefs at New York. There is, I
am told, a very genteel neighbourhood here, and
much tea vifiting* It is alfo a great thoroughfare*
and may be reckoned a very neat pleafant country
town. Mr. Harriot's houfe is beautifully fituated on
a kind of cliff; there I breakfafled^ according to
a promife I made when I went to Philadelphia.
Mrs. Harriot, Who had lived here two years, com-
plained much of the excefilve heat in fummer, and
the extreme cold in the winter, as what (he had not
been ufed to in England.
•^
I had not time to go and fee Schuyler's copper
mine, about four miles from this place : it was firfl
difcovered about the year 1776, but upon breaking
out of the war, it was not much, at leaft, worked till
lately. It is now worked by a fleam engine, and I
am told, yields from the ore, three fourths cop*
per. A mill for fmelting, is gomg to be ere^ed at
Paterlbn. --,^-" „ . .;.; 'i^
■ While
:'#
v.m
c*;,.
s8g
EXCUftSION TO TB«
I !-!"
r M'*"!
While at Newark, 1 heard much converfatTon
about the Paterfon manufaftory, at the Falls in that
neighbourhood, as a very cxpenfive undertaking;
alfo of the roguery of the different managers, placed
at different times at the head of it; chiefly men of
ruined fortunes, from Engknd ; men who undertook
it, merely to aggrandize themfelves at any rate. I
have already given my opinion, on the fate of thefe
undertakings. America has many better fources of
aational wealth, at prefent, than manufadure.
At ten o'clock, I took a place in the ftage, for
Kew York, and paid half a dollar, being nine miles*
The road is, for the moft part, over a fwamp^ and
it is made paffable by flicks of timber laid aerofs it
til the way, fo clofc together, that the horfes cannot
ftep between. One of my fellow travellers fud*
denly called out, ** A fnake, a fnake ! and fee the
ftird following it." The fad was, a large black fnake
was ftretched before us, on the road, fafcinating a
poor bird, and he had fo far fucceeded, before the
settle of our carriage diAurbed him, that when he
retired flowly into the ruflies, by the road fide, the
bird actually followed him. The driver told us, it
was a very common occurrence. Monfieur Barre,^
a captaiiv of the Perdrix French frigate, wiiich lay^
in. North River, was a paffenger with us; a hand-
ibme,'Weil looking, manly perfon, with fenfible and
pleafant converfation ; yet to fee him with a pair of
• -*...-f^
:.%.
Vmr-ED STATES. i^
{old ear rings dangling next his cheeks^ iiUed SM
with difguft. . , .
After eroding the PalTaick and Hackinfack Ri«
vers, we came to Paulus tlook, and were foon fer-
ried over Hudfon's River, to the city of New York*
1 went immediately to Mrs. Loring*s, to enquire for
Dr. and Mrb. PrieAley, and found they were gone
to dine with .Mr. Ofgood, a gentleman I was ac*
quainted with, and wnere I had before dined: I
called there, and was introduced jull as the wines
and defert were placed on the table, and found a
Jarge party, of twenty-two ladies and gentlemen^
Befides Dr. and Mrs. Prieilley, there were: the fii*
ihop of New York and his lady, (a relation of mine«
by marriage,) Mr. Genet, the late French Ambaf-
fadur, Melandhon Smith, and others^ befides Mrs*
Ofgood, the Mifs Frankiyns, and many ladies*
The two Mifs Frankiyns are the daughters of Mrs*
Ofgood, by her former hufband. They are charm*
ing accompliflied young women. I promifed myfelf ,
much pieafur« and delight in cultivating an ac-
4q[uaintance with them, while 1 was at New York^
but to my great mortification, a few days afterwards*
they fet out on a vifit to their relations at Bofton*
We had much interefting converfation after dinner*
«fpecially on political fubje£ls. 1 could not help re-
marking, that I was feated between the Bifhop and
Dr. Prie^ey, the feat of war in England, but of
^eace and civility hej:e« (No loaves and £ihes in
-rMm ■ •' • / the
■I \\
'4?
■y vv
.^.«.i£- = ^';itf .,
... -j»r
1^0
EXCURSION TO THE
the way.) When wc retired to the drawing room»
for tea and coffee, converfation continued too inte-
reiting for any one to propofe cards, and about ten
in the evening, we feparated.
Mrs. Loring's pleafant lodging houfe being too
full to admit me, I took up my quarters at Mrs.
Gordon's, No. 137, Greenwich -ftre6t, a new-built
pleafant houfe; paying eight dollars a week^ for
lodging and boarding.
Saturday t June 14. Went with Dr. and the tw»
Mrs. Prieftley's to call on Dr. Prevooft, the Biihop,
a pleafant, agreeable man, of plain manners and
good fenfe. No honours annexed to the office of
fiifliop, in America. You neither addrefs them as
Lords, nor Right Reverend Fathers in God Hi»
Lady was a Mifs Bousfield, from Ireland, filler to
Colonel Bousfield, a, genteel, pleafing, and agree*
able woman.!
v^ yunei^. Being Trinity Sunday, the divines
preached almoft univerfally in fupport of that doc-
trine. The famous interpolated text, which Dr.
Clarke has juilly noticed, was not forgotten:
** There are three that bear record in heaven.**
At Trinity Church, I heard Dr. Beach preach from
thefe words: " Acquaint now thyfelf with God*
and be at peace with him, thereby good Ihall come
unto thee.'* In a very perfonal manner, he applied
them
,-1-.^
.% "-^
, s
WKITED STATEi.
»9i
g room»
00 inde*
bout ten
cing too
It Mrs.
ew-buitt
ek, for
the tw«
Biihop,
lers and
office of
them as
•d His
filler to
1 agree-
divines
hat doc-
nich Dr.
rgotten
»»
leaven.
ich from
th God*
all come
; applied
them
them to Dr. Prieilley, as if the caufe of all his troa«
hies was his ignorance of the nature of the Deitjr*
They are really afraid of Dr Prieftley, and are pre-,
paring pabiications againlt Unicarianifm, making
no doubt of a complete victory. , ;
r:'
•4f;
A fliip arrived to- day, from Leith» in Scotland*
'with abave a hundred paiTengers^ come out to
iettle.
>
June 1 6. We dined with Mr. Bridgen, at his
country houfe, three miles out of New York, on the
JBall River. Our party were. General Gates and
Jiis lady, the four Prieftleys, and two other gentle-
jnen, befides the family. The top dilh was an ex-
cellent fifh, called a iheep's head, ftewed, refembling
tench, but much better. In the defert was a plafe
of currants, but they were not fully ripe. Gengral
Gates drank to me, at table, as his countryman.
The General finding i was an Engliih clothier, com-
plained he could never get any good iuperiine broad
cloth, at New York, though he had tried every (hop
there. ** Why,'* fays he, *' do you put us oiFwith
fuch inferior cloth.*' There was an addition to our
party at tea; a Mrs. fieckman, the mother of
twelve fons and daughters, and ftill appears capable
of producing as many more. Mr. Bridgen, our
Jioft, is the father of eighteen. In Hanover-fquare*
an New York, Mr. Atkinfon, who lives there, told
jae* that four of his neighbours make up fifty- two
children^
' )
■/?
-■-r-- -- - -" , •
.^_,.^;.::.*r,..,..;;./*l^>f.■: ..•
Mgt
r'
EXCURSION TO THE
'I
children, in their joint families. This is the way,
indeed* to ftoclc a new country with inhabitants.
Three of the Mifs Beckman's accompanied their
mother* one of whom, it was faid* was well (killed
in Greek and Latin : this, however, was not the
ivhole of her accomplifhments : (he was handfome.
nor had her deep Audies at all injured a very beau-
tiful complexion. On our retarn, in the evening*
William Prieftley and myfelf, went to fup with our
friend Mr. Lewis* where we met Mr. and Mrs.
Atkinfon ; the latter a very fenfible woman. Speak-
ing of land purchafes, Mr. Atkinfon faid* a friend
of his had bought a tra£t of land, fix years ago, at
threepence an acre* which he has lately fold again*
at five dollars an acre, or twenty-two fhillings and
£xpence ilerling ; an immenfe profit in fix years ;
i)ut this is an uncommon cafe.
•if-
yuMB 17. Took a ride with Mr. Lewis, in his
phaeton, fix or eight miles along the banks of Hud-
fon's River* then crofTed the ifland eailward, and
3-eturned by the fide of Eaft River, or Sound. It
abounds with country feats of gentlemen and mer-
chants* commanding fea views : amongft others, is
a beautiful place belonging to Mr. John Wilkes* a
nephew to the Chamberlain of London, which is
foon to be difpofed of. Mr. Lewis's pair of bay
horfes, coil him feventy-two pounds currency* or
iorty pounds ten fhillings fterling: they are good
Jiorfes, and well trained to their bufinefs* one fix,
>; the
'V-
4^.
UNITED STATES.
>93
the other ieven years old, and reckoned well worth
the money. On oar return, we faw a fchooner that
had juft come down Hudfon's River, from Albany^
difcharging her cargo, which confifted of three*
fcore fine mules, bought by a New York merchantt
to fend to the Weil Indies. It mull be a very
good trade to breed them, for as well as I re-
member, they told me, they would fetch from
forty to fixty pounds currency, a jnece^ in the Weil
Indies.
Jane i8. Dr. Prieftley and family fet oiT from
New York for Philadelphia : I accompanied theoi
acrofs North River, to Paulus Hook. He purpofes
(laying at Philadelphia one fortnight only, and then
goes up the Sufquehanah to Northumbeiiand tqwn»
to a houfe his Tons had Tome time before his arrival*
£tted np for his reception; a full proof, that he jcame
to America for peace and retirement, and not with
any view to any public fituation, of which, to
my knowledge, he had many offered, and all of
which, without any heiitation whatever, he pofi-
tively declined. H& told me, as we paifed the river
together, that his reception was highly flattering to
him, and far beyond what he either wiihed or ex-
peded. •
June 19. 1 called out of curiofity, at J. Ware-
ham's Regiiler OiHce, No. 1 10, Maiden-lane, to en-
quire the price of a farm, advertifed by him for fale»
K
IB
>^4
SXCURSION TO rHE
in Monmouth County, New Jerfcy. It confided of
fix hundred and fixty-fix acres, thirty of which are
CHltivated, the reft in timber ; a dwelling houfe and
ilables, a grift mill, with a never failing ftream of
%vater, and a new faw mill, which he faid would vul
two thoufand feet of board in a day j •'li- oi ^j
planted orchard. ' wi- -
Likewife another eftate near jt, uf four hikndred
and eighty-feven acres, three hundred ot it fait
sneadow« and plenty of lre(h meadow at a little ex-
pence, enough to fupport one hundred andfifty head
of cattle, with an indifpu table title. ,
He offered the two eftates together, for one thou-
sand four hundred pounds currency, or fe^en hun-
dred und ninety-feven pounds ten (hillings fterling:
Lfufpe£t it, however, to be an unhealthy fituatioUf
by obferving its fituation in the map of New Jerley.
I mention the above, juft to give my reader a matter
of fa£t account of the value of land.
At the fame cfrici:, 1 was recomin* ided to the
piirchafe of a.i elLte *;. Elizabeth Town, only fifteen
jmiles from New York ; confifting of one hundred
and eighty acre^, eighty of which is cultivated ; with
a very good houfe and garden ; belonging to a Mr.
Kobinfon, who lives on the premifcs : five windows
an front, and three ftories high, including the attic.
JFor the whole of this, he aiked one thoufand five
hundred
-4-1
WNITEI3 STATES.
*95
handrf ' ponnds currency, or eight K«fidred and
forty-thrc e pounds fifteen fliilling^ llerling. It is t
pleafaut town^on the great road between New York
and Philadelphia, to which places, four ftages iH
every day. A cheap place loHhive in> and you m. f
go by water feveral times every day, to anii from
New York, for tenpence fterling, or one (hilling ar4
fixpence currency. You go it generally, (at le» 1 1
did) in an hour and a half*
I have heard, to-day, tt at Mr. Wilkes's beautifi ^
houfe, and improvements, arr offered for fale ; nov
rented by Mr. Ludlow. I has four elegant fronts*
and a portico, with eighty . cres of improved land
I'ound it; is five miles from New York, on the
banks of Hndfon's or North River; commands «
fine view of the river and city:, and has been offered
for four thoufand pounds fterlie'g'*.
June 20. A (hip arrived to-day, at the battery*
from Ireland, which brings ovc r four hundred and
thirty.five paiTengers. I made a point to find many
of them out, and afk them why they left their
country t they told me the times were fo hard, and
every thing fo dear, that with all their induftry, they
could not live. They faid they had all paid their
pafTage; that near two hundred of them were
* This elegant villa has fince beea fold for ten thoufand
pounds currency to Mr. J. Conftablea ,_
K a ■ wcavcra
iMCfi
SXCURSION TO THE
•m
^reavers of diaper and dimity. They toli me, that
m, moft of them were going to the weftern parts of
Conne£licut, to fettle on new lands. Many other
arrivals of this kind lately, and great plenty of poor
Englilh manufadurers, who would he glad to fettle
at their old bufineifes, if they could get employ.
Mr. Dixon told me, that when he has fomeumes put
them' into the loom, at his manufaflbry, they gene-
jrally leave him when they Jiave faved up a little
jnoney,, and go to fettle on new land. The flattering
profpefl of eafe and independi^ce, to be acquired
by moderate labour, foon attrads their notice, as
thofe who make latge purchafes of land, hold out
liich great encourageme^it. The following terms
vrere offered to one Moxam : To have pofTeinon of
ififty acres^ the firft five years, for nothing, except
a condition to ered a iog houfe, and cultivate it be-
fore he cultivates any other land. He is then to be
4>ffered the purchafe of the land, at a market price.
Jf lie will not bay, he mufl: pay one'ihilling an acre,
as Tent, per annum, for the next five years ; and if
at the end of ten years, he does not quit it, or buy
itf he is to pay eighteen guineas a y«ar for ever. /
i was alfo informed, that I might get almoft
any land cleared, in New York County, for the ex-
|>eBcechofen li-
brary ; but feeing very few Greek or Latin books>
I afked the reafon of it : the mailer informed me,
that though they had near a hundred pupils, from
different ilates of the Union, and fome £^s far pfF
as from Georgia, that very few of them learned the
claffics ; which (from the idea that it employed too
muchof a^ boy's time,) was getting very^ much out
K3 of
•* ■,
I9S
EXCURSION TO TKE
offaftion. There w€re, he faid, now fbch good
tranflations into Englifh, of almoft all the fine claf-
fic authors, that the knowledge of them, could be
obtained very competently, without a young man'f
hammering fo long a time at hie 9 hacy hocy and
nrvrtlu^rv^Uy rerv^ct: I fmiled at his obfervation,
which encouraged him to fay, that the habits and
manners of America were fo far different from.thofe-
of Europe, that they did not want to breed up mea
of deep fpeculation and abflra^t knowledge; for a.
man amongH: them, was no more valuable, than at
If
he was ufeful in improving the flate of the country.
I thought there was good fenfe in his obfervations*.
The endowment, he faid, allows only fix pounds, for
each boy, but it generally made an expence of thirty
pounds a head; the reft is defrayed, by their pa-
rents* It was kept very clean and healthy, and
every thing in neat order. It was then the va-
cation time. I returned to the place where the
ilage was w^tihg its hour, and there found another
French gentleman, at lodgings. He affured me he
paid for lodging and boarding, but two dollars a.
week, and was very comfortably accommodated..
He was under afflifiion ; had been captain of a vef»
fel, taken from him at Port au Prince, and he had
retired hither alone, with the wreck of his fortune*
waiting the event of the war, or fome favourable
change of circumftance to try to recover his pro«
perty. He was fludying the Englifh language.
He had the Bible, the Spectators, Salmon's Geogra-
phy, feveral hiftorical and political works. Among
the
CTNiTEir srATEar#
199
flic latter, I could not help remarking, " Pigs Meat
for the SwiniQi Multitude ;'* a tra£l that had not
been publilhed in England, more than three months i ^..
^ow it could get to that remote part qf the worlds
in fo fliort a fpace of time Teemed extraordinary*
T obferved a great deal of linen (heeting, manuk
fadtured in this pariih ; it lay about on the grounds^
to bleacb. The women, it feems, of each family^
whenever they have anyvleifure, fpin the yarn out of
flax they themlelves raife, and when they have
eight or ten pounds of yarn, they fend it to a public
weaver, who returns it to them, wove into cloth.
Soap they make^ of kitchen greafe and aihes, for
domeilic ufe ; and railing all commodities and pro*
Tifions around them, they are fo happy as to have
very little ufe for money. There is one or two
packs of dogs kept in this ifland ; a pack of fox ^
hounds hunts twice a week» at Jamsuca, during the
feafon*
I now mounted the coachee once more, with my
two Frenchmen, and found I was going to Jamaica*
t|ie chief town of the ifland. Good roads, and
cherry trees, loaded with fruit, almoft all the way.
We gathered them in plenty, without flopping the
carriage. They are not fweet, as ours, but very
palatable and cooling, the weather being at this
time, very hot. The country very flat, fcarce a
sifing ta be feen, till you meet the ridge which
K 4 paifet
200
EXCURSION TO THE
paiTes through the middle of the ifland» near Js.
oiaica. It is but a fmall fcattered village, no two
houfes join. There was a large market-hcufey and
feveral ihops, like our country ones, in England,
that fell every thing. Willing to bring away fome-
, thing, I purchafed at a ihop, a neat little work
hafket, mad^e by the Montaick Indians, of that
n^ghbourhood, a very quiet harmlefs people, the
Aborigines of the iflatid, who live in the adjoining
woods*
/ ' ■ '
We h^d a very poor dinner at this place. After
waiting two hours, there came in a bread of veal, at
red as bacon, potatoes fweet and waxy, that I could
not touch them: at lafi I got a good cucumber^ and
bread and cheefe,. of which I made a tolerable din-
ner. We had Port and Madeira, but they were
both fo bad, that I was obliged to mix them widi
water/ to make them palatable. We had fome good
bottled porter, from New York. The landlord*
however, ustderflood how to charge, for we paid
five (hillings and fixpence a-pieice, at which our
two Frenchmen uttered « Morbleau," and fliook
their heads.
After drinking " The Prefident," which is al-
ways the iiril health, in America, and then " King
George,*' I requeued they would fing me fome civic
fongs. I fhall never forget the animation with
which they fung the Mar/eilhis Hymn. They rofe
from
-1*
UNITED STATES.
lot
from their feats with fuch agitation, and afed fuch
geflure with their enthufiafm, while I fat fmoking a
pipe very cooly, that I laid it down, preparing my*
Iclf for either peace or war. They were two to one,
but I was not in much fear of them, (agreeable to
Sentiment of mod Englifhmen) although fo far
diilant from all aid. We had next the Carmagnole,
then Viellons au Salut de I* Empire, and many others.
But our Frenchmen began^ at laft, to be too noify,
to be any ways tolerable ; fo I quitted them, about
fkx o'clock, and hired the coachee to take me back
to Brooklyn, for which I agreed to give our cha-
rioteer half a dollar, and a good glafs of brand/
and water, at the half-way houfe. When we were
come three parts of the way to the crofs roads, one
of which kads to Flat Bufh, where he lived, hav«
ing had both money and beverage, herefufed to take «
me any further, and faid he muft now return home :
I told him I (houlid iniifl: on his fulfilling his agree-
ment, and that if he dared to take me one ftep out
of the roady I would fummon him before the next
Juftice of the Peace, to anfwer for it. Upon which,
feeing me refolute^ he at once became all obedience:
the carriage, however, broke down, within a mile^
of Brooklyn, and ftepping out, I had a very pleafant
walk to the ferry, and reached New York about
eight in the evening*
I remarked that I never faw one muiketoe while
in the ifland, although they were fo very troublefome
t
V
261
EXCURSION to THE
to me, laft week, on the other fide of North Rivcf.
. This is owing to the wind being north, which keeps
them on the Jerfey (hore ; had the wind been fouth-
ward or weft, we fhould have had multitudes of
them.
I had taken with me an introduction, to call on
Captain GiiFard, of Flat l$uih, but I did not find
him at home : he was, it feems, employed doing
ilatute labour on the road. It is liberty and equa-
lity, in this ifland : the laws order that every man,
without diilindion, muft give a day's labour, in
turn, upon the high roads. I> faw well dreifed
gentlemen at work, (hovelling dirt, with the com"
moneft people. By this means they have very good
roads, at little coft ; turnpikes being not fo ihuch as
known there, or in any part of America, except
very lately, pn the road between Philadelphia and
Lancafter,' to which, though a great outcry was
Iraifed againft it, by the thrifty Germans frequenting
Philadelphia market, they are now very well re-
conciled. They find, by experience, that they can "
carry more goods to market, with the fame number '
of horfes, and do their bufinefs in lefs time, which
amply reimburfes them what they pay to the turn-
pike. The roads, to be fure, round Philadelphia,
were fo fhockingly bad, being a fc^t miry clay, that
they appeared to me almoft impafiable.
June 22. This moroing I went to the Proteftant*
Epifcopal
li
CNITSD STATES*
103
Spircopal Church of St. Paul; a modern hand-
(ome edifice. The entrance is by a portico, in th«
form of a dome,\l fortune 2ksfortn*
yune 2"^ . I dined with James Rivington, the book-
feller, formerly of St. PauPs Church-yard; he i«
ftiU a chearful old man, and enquired of me for Mr.
Collins, and Mr. Eafton, and mftny of his quondam
acquaintances iQ England, puring the time the
Britiih kept poffeflion of New York, he prnted a
ne^paper for them, and opened a kind of cofFee-
houfe for the ofHcers ; his houfe was the great place
of refort ; he made a great deal of money during
that period, though many of the micers quitted it
confiderably in arrears to~hini. .'n the evening at
fix o'clock, Mr. G. L and myfelf fet out, in an
Elizabeth Town boat» with Mr. Addipgton, for
, Spring-
UNITED 9TATBf.
SOf
Springfield* in new Jerfey, to fee his prindng-callioi
cftablilhment.
•
To Elizabeth Point, is about twelve miles ; we
paid one fhilling and fixpence each for our paflage,
(tenpence halfpenny fterling) and paffing along un-
der Staten Idand, we landed there, at Judge Ryafs's*
to take in two horfes belonging to Mr. Addington,
and, after a moil pleafant fail of three hours, we
reached the Point.
While palling by Staten Ifland, our nofes wer^
fuddenly afTailed with a moil difagreeable flench»
and before I could fpeak of it, the people on board'
cried out, *' A Skunk ;" it feems this nafty animal
may be fmelt at a mile diilanco, if the wind fets
that way, which was the cafe at prefent : it is about
the fize of a pole cat, very flow in its' niotions ; Na-
ture, has therefore, given it a defence of a peculiar
kind.
We flept this night at the tavern at the Point*
and next morning we walked two miles to Elizabeth
Town to breakfaft. Here I got a one-horfe chair*
and drove myfelf to Springfield. This place was
burnt down during the late war; yet Mr. Adding-
ton holds Ariflocratic principles, which renders the
people there lefs friendly and fociable to him than i(
otherwife. In this village there are plenty of ri-
vulets of quick running water* I counted four
mills
208
EXCURSION TO THE
mills within the fpace of haJf a mile— for a paper
manufaftory, for boring and fawing thnber, for
making lintfeed oil and paint, and for turning card*
ing engines. The latter I went to fee ; it is con-
ducted by a Mr. Dewhorfl, from Manchefter, and
is both for cotten and woollen; fome good work-
Ihops were jufl finifhed building. One fmall card-
ing engine appears nearly worn out, and another
was juft finifliing of very coinpleat good workman*
Ihip, with iron arches, and the cards of excellent
workmanfliip, and well put on. I faw an eighty-
four fpindled jenny, and four other fmaller ones.
His millrwheel is twenty-two feet diameter, and
never any want of water in the dried feafon. He
had a large parcel of linen-yarn, of very good qua-
lity; the flax 90(1 him tenpence per pound, cur-
rency, and the fpinning, twenty-one pence, drawn
about nineteen fkeins to the pound ; in all about one
(hilling and fixpence per pound flerling. His weav-
ing (hop in the lowed ftory, contained eight looms*
A good workman there expeds to earn a dollar a
day or more, but fome are to ' be had at half the
price. Plenty of Emigrant workmen from our three
kingdoms continually pafs along and afk for work.
There is a fifth mill a little further on, in the occu<*
pation of Mr. Tyler, a native of the village. He is
a clothier, i. e. one who mills and drefTes the home-
fpun cloth for the neighbourhood. He has two
prefTes, (very poor ones) and two pair of flieers.
He is fo ingenious as to dye almoft every colour him-
felf
/'
UKITED STATI».
«o»
•k\f from roots, leaves, and the barks of trees which
grow in his neighbourhood : — good yellows from
the black oak bark, which is the quercitron for
which Dr. Bancroft procured a patent, and fold at
an enormoui price in England. The fame colour
he alfo procures from the hiccory bark and the bir-
bary root ; claret browns he dyes from the white
04k. bark, filled up with fanders ; good grafs greens*
with the leaves of peach trees, fixed with alom ; he
alfo dyed very good cinnamons and browns, from the
bark of the butternut tree, by mere cold infuiion ;
fumach, of very good quality, grows wild, and is
had for nothing ; the apple tree bark dyes alfo a
good yellow. This is a favorable fituation for efta-
blifhing manufadlure ; there is good water carriage
by Pofaick River, within five miles of the place*
to New York. Provifions are exceeding cheap i
butcher's meat, from twopence to threepence half-
peny fterling per pound. A navigable canal might
in fome future time be eafily made into the middle
of the town. In walking acrofs a field, with Mr*
JDewhorit, I met with a little tortoife travelling acrofa
the footpath jull before me ; it was the firil I had
ever feen; I put the little gentleman into my pocket*
and brought him alive to England. In a field be*
hind Tyler's houfe, I faw fome very good teizels
growing. I dined here at Mr. Addington's, who
has a confiderable bufinefs in printing callicoes*
muflins^ and linens, and an excellent bleaching
ground ; but it is as yet quite an infant un^rtak-
. ; '- V ' '^ ing*
^10
EXCURSION TO THt
r ing, and will hardly fucceed for want of a larger
command of capital. The difficylty of making re-
turns of money, will for many years operate againft
eftabliftiing fuch concerns. I drank fome fpxucc
beer, the firft I had ever tafted ; it is the common
drink here ; they make it from the tops and green,
• cones of the fpruce fir trees, fermented and fweet-
cnedwith molaifes; it is an excellent anti-fcorbutlc.
At four o'clock, we returned to Elizabeth Town
Point, where a boat was juft putting off for New
York. We were now (adly peftered with the niuf-
ketoes. At Staten Ifland we were joined by two
other veffels. As we approach New York, it forms
a beautiful objedl riling from the waters. We now
pafs through a fleet of French frigates, juft dropping
their anchor's below Governor's liland.
% Orders were lately iflued by Governor Clinton^
(on account of the appearances of a war with En-
* gland) that na veffels of force of any foreign na-
tion ihould come into this port, but in future drop
their anchors a mile at leaft without Governor's
: "'.^st
^ yune 29. I made' another excurfion into Lf ng
■Ifland, with a gentleman of New York; we croffed
at nine in the morning, at Brooklyn Ferry, with our
horfes, and rode through Flat Bufli to Gravefend,
near the Narrows, where there is a beautiful view
of the iJea and ail the fliipping entering the harbour.
• AMru
,-; - ^' "
■"•%•"■ '•'-■.
UNITED STATES.
2ir
A Mr. Bailey, of New York, has juft built a very
handfume tea-drinking pleafure houfe, to acconi'
modate parties who come hither from all the neigh-
bouring ports ; he intends alfo to have bathing ma-
chines, and ieveral fpecies of entertainment. It
feems parties are made here from thirty or forty
miles diftance, in the fummer time. At Gravefend
1 went to church, but the fervice being in Dutch, I
was very little the better for it ; the finging was the
oddeft I ever heard, without the leail harmony in it*
The day was fo clofe and hot, we were forced to
remain there till the evening. On our return to
Brooklyn Ferry, about fix o'clock, we could get no
paffage for two hours. ^ So much company refort to
this pleafant ifland on each fine Sunday, from New
York and other places, as \.o keep four large ferry
boats, holding twenty perfons each, in conilant em*
ploy. Between three and four thoufand perfons had
pafTed ovtx that day. . *sy-f''^^'» v >* -
I attended a fale of fome military lands (by auc>>
tion at the Tontine Coffee Houfe) iituated in th^
north part of New York State. Twenty-five acres
in the townfhip of Cato, were fold at two ihillings
and eightpence currency per acre; (one fhiUing
and fixpence flerling) five hundred in Pompey^ at
five fliillings and one penny (two fhillings and ten-
pence ilerling ;) nine hundred in Tully and Han-
nibal, at three fhillings and eightpence (two fhillings
and one penny ;) fourteen hundred in Hedor and
Dryden,
"W'^''
atiz
EXCURSION TO THE
Dryden, at three (hillings and eightpence (two fhil^-
Hngs and one penny.) : - /•.'
Same day, in Loudon's (the bookfeller) ftiop I
met with the Reverend John Hurt, a clergymar>,
from Kentucky, where he had lived many years in
the town of Lexington. He has travelJed through
Virginia, Penfylvania, and moft parts of America.
No country for making a fortune like Kentucky.
He named three men who began with lefs than two
hundred pounds a- piece, in his memory, and are
now worth thirty thonfand pounds ilerling, only fiore
keepers* .4, -..jr-- ,• .- / ■-:: ■ r^
He fays there is much want of judgment in pur-
chafing lands : there are at this time lands even in
Kentucky, not worth a pinch of fnufF an acre, and
/jDthers thaif ivould be cheap at twenty or thirty ihiU
lings an acre. The next land to it in point of ex*
• cellence, he fays, is about Harrifburgh, on to Win*^
chefler and Hagar's Town, and the reft of the
Shenandoah valley.. He thinks lands are not eligiw
ble more than forty-two or forty-three degrees of
North latitude in the back country. He has often
J)een to the new federal city of Wafhington j^ has no
doubt it muft be very confiderable in a few years,
' if the government is not overturned, for nothing
lefs can prevent it. Mercantile men will princi^
pally fettle in the fouth-eafl corner on Eaft River.
The navigation there is deep, (thirty- Ax fathom)
• and
. . I .-.ie5iu^'» ■
tmiTEp STATES.
213
»nd always free from the interruption of ice through*
out the winter. The govdrnment will make it a
principal object to improve this place, and all its
regulations refpefling its future grandeur are already
planned, fuitabie to a great and growing empire.
A diftrid of ten miles fquare around ii, wa < granted
by Congrefs, and appropriated for the permanent
feat of the government of tl ? United States. It
was alfo ratified and paiTed into a law, (Sedtlon the
fixth) that on the firft Monday in December, i8oo«
the feat of government ihall be transferred to the
diilri£t and place aforefaid. This diftri^^l of ten
miles fquare includes the River Potomac, live miles
above and five miles below the city nearly ; and ex-
tends into the ftate of Virginia^ three miles over the
river.
A:-
.■*••■■
^' The whole area of the city conftfts of upwards of
four thoufand acres. Thtf ground is on an average
forty feet higher than the water of the river, and
yet a llream of freih water called Watt's Branch,
may be bjrx>ught within half a mile of trie city, at
the height of" forty feet above the level of the city
itfelf, which will be very convenient for all water-
works and manufaflures, &c. Many houfes are al-
ready built, and a very handfome hotel, which coft
in the eret^tion more than thirty thoufand dollars
' (fix thoufandfeven hundred pounds ilerling.) it ia
now apportioned into one thoufand two hundred and
thirty-fix locs> for buildingt (which are fbrfale.)
. .:/ /■>•' ■' ^' ■ ■ £acb
1 1
n
'■.-■: '.vv^ ., r.y. ,r
^14-
EXCTTRsrON TO THE
Bach lot contains ground for building three or four
Jioufes, according to general rules to be obferved
for making them uniform. The deepeft lots ate
two hundred and feventy feet, by feventy, fronting
the ftreet. A fquare has from twenty to thirty lot»
in it. The value of each lot is from forty pounds
to two hundred pounds Ilerling.
There is to be a national Univerfity crefted there,
as well as the Mint, Pay Office, Treafury, Supreme
Courts of Juftice, Reiidences for the Ambaffadors;
in fhort;, all the Public Offices. The city is to be
built after a plan laid down for every ftreet, of a
£ne white ftone found in the neighbourhood, equal
to Portland. Each houfe is to be forty feet from
the ground to the roof, in all the principal ftreets,
which are to be from feventy to one hundred feet *
wide. The firft ftreet was formed upon an ex|£l .
meridian line, drawn few the purpofe, by a Mr. El-
licot, which paffes through the Capitol, the feat of
the legiflature, on an eminence, from whence the
ilreets diverge into radii in every dire^on. li has,
therefore, the full command of every quarter of the
city. From it you can fee every veffel that comes
in or goes out of the harbour, and every carriage or
horfeman that enters the city by the bridge, On^
of the ftreets (Penlylvania) is marked out to be four^
jmiles long. ■:h'"-,--' ^. _;:^.rf .-■';;■/ -'^.^ ..-•;; _ ' ,.;
'i'-i^Sfc
The preftdent*s houfe will alfo ftand on a rifmg
. ground.
UNITED STATES,
215
.;^
j^ound, pofTeffing a delightful wat?r profpeft, to-
gether with a commanding view of the Capitol, and
the moft material parts of the city, being likewife
the centre of other radiate ftreets. All the grand
avenues and feme Areets which lead immediately to
public places, are from one hundred and thirty to
one hundred and' fixty feet wide : this L to admit
room for a walk, planted with trees on each fide*
and a paved way for carriages. Every .ftreet is
laid down according to adual meafurement, go-
verned by the Hrft meridian line. Commiflioners
are appointed to fee all thefe regulations carried
into execution. The queftion ftill with me is, whe-
ther the fcheme is not too magnificent for the pre-
ient ftOtte of things* . . ,^^ _ . , .-_--,:■ -. ,,. ' -
-i^i^^-'
.w;;
Tm''-,
-A i
,.- The original projedlor of this city, was the Great
Walhington himfelf ! Early in life, he contemplated
the opening of this river from the tide water^ (with-
in three miles of this city) up to nearly its fource.
His public employments in the part of tlie country
through vvhiqj||the Potomack and itsjaranches run,
had given him a more complete knowledge of this
river, than almoft any other man poffeffed, at that
time ; and his mind was ftrongly impreffed with its
fulare importance ; but the period for undertaking
a work of fuch magnitude, had not yet arrived.
The country as yet was but thinly inhabited, and
canals and locks but little underilood in America.
<}eneral Waibington^ however, kept this obje^ al-<
I
Sl6
EXCURSION TO THE
ways in vieWf waiting until time and circumflances
ihould enable him to bring it forward, with a prof-
peA of fuccefs.
In the year 1784, a Company was formed, for
the purpofe of clearing and opening the navigation
of this river. A capital of fifty thoufand pounds
was required for this work, which was to be re-
paid by the tolls arifmg from the navigation of
the river, and it has already anfwered the purpofes
for which it was inflituted, the one hundred {^unds
ihares now felling at a vaft advance. ■
The reafon why a Situation on the Potomack
River is more eligible than any other for a federal
city, is, that this river runs more directly eaft and
weft, than any river belides, by which means it will
conneft the back Country with the Atlantic ftates,
and preierve their federal union. In point of trade
alfo, it will unite them by intereft j as by a navigable
cut, of only fcventeen miles frohi Savage kiver, ( a ,
branch of the Potomack) to the'-Jp|ughiogany,
which runs into the Ohio, a complete navigation
can be aiFeded from Kentucky acrofs the country, -,
clear to the Chefeapeak.* This will confolidate
, , . the '
• The buildings and works at the Federal City, arc, I un»
ierftand, at this time (1796) almoft at a ftand. The profpeftof
a rupture with this country, and other important afFair§ of the
States have occafioned this to be fr jin
its bad quality. . _
.. !•
Lz
In
-"ivw
^20
EXCURSION TO THE
.1 1
« Tn refpeft to their buildings, I date a new sera
from their acceptance of the federal conftitution.
Then they began to feel themfelves unit *d as a
nation, and all their public works and undertakings
ieem to have commenced in a more important ftyle.
■* . ■ ■ - ■ . ^ /
• "No copper money paffes here ; papers, of the fizc
of turnpike tickets, pafs for one penny, twopence,
threepence, and fourpence a-piece ; thefe will not
pafs out of theii' diflrid, nor the copper halfpence
of Connecticut, Vermont, or MaiTachufcts, pafs at
Kew York. This will foon be reftified by the ge-
iiecal ufe of a copper coin, called a cent, now jufl
beginning to circulate, coined by the authority o^'
Congrefc*
j Moft of the families of New York have black fer-
vants. I ihould fuppofe that nearly one fifth of the
inhabitants are negroes, moil of whom are free, and
jnany in good eafy circumilances.
• . ' '■!► :■ • •• ■• • ■ • ■ , ,
■1 '^- .■':'—..■■ >■
.'- Houfe Tent is very dear: three hundred pound"
currency, or one hundred and fixty pounds flerling*
h a common rent for flore -keepers and tradefmen to
give. Mr. L gives two hundred and twenty
pounds a year for a houfe in a back flreet, but all
his lates and taxes of every kind do not make up
isven pounds a year. ,
Of
VNITED STATES..
221
Of the rapid and wonderful increafe of population
in tins city, I give the following, as what was pub-
licly ftated for fadl :
In 1790 were in New York 4500 houfe-keepers*.
1 79 1 they encreafed to 5800
1792 — — 6700
1793 — ^ ■ '77Ga , .
179^ ' — nearly 8900.
A friend wrote me from thence in December^
r794, that there had been ipwards of eight hundred
and fifty new houfes built that year, and yet hardljr
one to be got, though the rents were doubled within
the laft feven years. This is owing to the great
increafe of its trade, and it bids fair in ihy opinion^
to be the largeft city in the union»
They have a fine harbour, where there is ample
room for all their fliipping ; and it is a port very
convenient for 0iips to rnake^ at almoit any point of
wind. *
>■<
L,
elels
222
EXCURSION TO THE
Vtjfds entered at the Port 0/ Nenu Tork in 1794*
Ships • •
' 159
Snows - «
• . 5
Brigs - «
301
Schooners
168
Sloops • «
157
Polacres •
I
791
For the coalling trade 1523
2314
fej/itt cUartd eutwardt.
Ships
' m
Snows • 1
9
Brigs - •
»43
Schooners •
152
Sloops •
• III
Polacres • «
S
Barques - •
I
694,
For the coafling trade 1695
2389
It is fo cold in winter, that their quickfet hedges
are generally cut off in the courfe of fome fevere
V -^ weather.
UNITED STATEf»
«23
weather, efpecially in the northern dates. The want
of them gives a wild unpleafant appearance to their
fields. 1 faw only one hedge of this kind; it wa*
in my walk to General Gates's.
They have fome very elegant chariots, coaches,
and pod chaifes. I faw the chariot of a maiden lady
(with a Dutch name) who lives a few miles out of
New York, 'that coH eight hundred guineas. Ik
was built in England (by Hatchet, I believe.) In
country places they are fond of driving one horfo
chaifes, on account of the bye roads.
■ • . )' .
If any perfon fufiers his chimney to catch fire, he
forfeits fix dollars to the ftate. A condu^kor for
lightning is fixed to almoA every houfe.
No (lages are allowed to travel on Sunday,
The day, however, is not fo rigidly obferved a»
formerly .
Land was offered me within thirty miles> (to>^
wards Albany for four fhillings and fixpence an
acre, , ,.
The legal intereft of money in this ftate is fix peiP
cent, out in the Jerfeys it is feven per cent. ) but
any man who has the command of money, and is
converfant with bufinefs, can make eight or ten per
ceau
,fX,-
L4
BiUs
224
EXCURSION TO THE
Bills of exchange, drawn on Europe, and there
protefted, carry ten per cent, intereft from their date
in Virginia ; but in New York> they bear twenty per
cent.
All vegetables are very dear ; Mrs. M told
me it coft her generally half 'a dollar a day for cab-
bages, carrots, and potatoes, and but a moderate
fized family.
ft
h
Almoft all the beer drank at New York is brewed
in London. They have one or two breweries here,
but they do not fucceed very well, I was often in
company, at dinner, with a Mr. Leipner, who owns
the brewery in. Greenwich- ftreet. He fays, there
is not barley enough raifed for home confumption,
that the prefent price is from fix (hillings and fix-
pence to feven ihillings and threepence (3s. 8d. to
4s. id. flerling) per bulhel, and malt at eight (hil-
lings, (i. e. 4s. 6d.) that the farmers do not care
to cultivate it. They do not drink ^much beer
themfelves, preferring cyder and whilkey, which
they get without buying.
Were barley more cultivated, and breweries more
generally eftabli(hed, it would Uffen that general
ufe of whi(key, which is very pernicious, though
the univerfal beverage of the back fettlers, and ,
Kentucky people. This habit arifes from the con-
venience with which every mun, po(re(ring a fmall .^
\ 1
UNITED STATES,
225
•e
e
■1
n
8
■, \
ilHl and a little rye, can produce it in his own
houfe. • • ' , ' ' ' .
-.v.-
The Government has feen this evil, and has en-
deavoured to check it, by laying a fmall duty of
threepence per gallon on it. This threw them into
fuch a ferment, (about the time I left New York)
as to excite a rebellion in the back country, fo that
the Militia were called out, and the Prefident him-
felf obliged to march at their head, to reduce them
to obedience. It was, however,, fooa fuppreffed
without any bloodfhed.
O
Of Provijions and Houfe-keeping.
In New York, every article of life is more tha»
doubled in price, within the laft three years. Fat
turkeys ufed to be fold for twenty-pence a piece cur-
rency, now fell for three (hillings and fix- pence;
eggs that were fold twenty-four for a fhilling cur-
rency, nine will now fetch a fliilling. I was afked
ten pence, twelve-pence, and fifteen pence per
pound currency, for ribs of beef, in the Fly market.
Butter from fifteen-pence to eighteen- pence per
pound, and not very good; has a tafte of onions.
The fields are likewife over run with crow garlic, ;
(allium pratenfe) which they will not take the pains -
to weed out« and which gives it this bad flavor.
G
-
L5
Yoot
d26
EXCURSION TO THE
You cannot board iii any good boarding houfe,
for Icfs than feven or eight dollars a week, finding
your own wine ; yet at Flat Bufli and Springfield
(not more than fourteen or eighteen miles diftant)
I could have taken very decent lodgings with boards
for two dollars. New York is as healthy and plea-
fant a place to live in, as any city I ever faw. The
price of provifions fiuftuates here exceedingly, like
Bath ; and perfons who know how to take oppor-
tunities, may furniih themfelves very cheap : after
, refufing to buy at their high prices, I was foon
after afked by the fame perfons, ijuhat ixmuld I
^hurfday, June 26. I was afked the following
prices : (reduced to fterling money) good beef, fe-
ven pence halfpenny; a vaft plenty of filh, from
twopence to twopence-halfpenny per pound ; lob-
fters, twopence per pound ; eels twopence-halfpenny
for a bunch (one pound and a quarter,) green peas,
fourpence a peck; cucumbers, threepence-half-
penny a piece ; fine flavored rafpberries, at four-
pence a bafket, (fize of thofe in Bath and London)
live ducks, twenty-one pence a couple; cherries,
twopence per pound ; currants, (none but red ones)
three-halfpence a pint ; onions, twopence halfpenny
and threepence a rope ; mulberries, three-pence a
pint* Three young lambs, alive, for eleven (hillings
and fixpence. Salmon, though in great plenty,
they
■V,;,?i^.
CNITED STATED.
227
they do not ever pickle, but fell it dried, and falted^
in preference, at fourpencw-halfpenny and iivepence
per pound. Great plenty of fturgeon, which is
caught in Hudfon's River, at about one penny per
pound. No cauliflower there, nor heads of brocoli;
the plants run up to feed quickly, from the quick«
nefs of vegetation. No filberts there, only common
hazel nuts, which they often call filberts.
The " New York Chamber of Commerce*' have
lately recommended the following inilrudlions to the
captains and mailers of all veffels, trading to fo*
reign countries, at the recommendation of the " So*
ciet^ for promoting of Agriculture and ufeful Arts"
—a conduct worthy of imitation in every country,
Firft, Procure a fmall quantity, not exceeding
one quart, of thofe kinds of grain, which make the
principal food of the inhabitants, and this even
though it (hould be wheat, barley, rye, oats, or
maize ; for though thofe grains are common in this
country, yet there are varieties whic. may be ex-
tremely important, as was inflanced in the acci«
dental introdudlion of the white bearded wheat,
which was found to refill the infedl when every other
fpecies was deflroyed by it.
> ':%v
L6
Second*
ftaS
EXCURSION TO THE
Second, Procure alfo fmall quantities of the feed
of thofe kinds of pulfe and legumens which are of
any eftimation in the opinion of the inhabitants of
the country you vifit, with inllrudions for tbeJr
proper cultivation, of which a minute ihould be
made upon the ipot.
Third. In countries where the rigour ol' the cU-
/nate compels the inhabitants to procure dr/ food
for their cattle in the winter, inquire what that food
is, whether hay, grain, or roots : obtain feeds of the
fpecies of grafs from which they make their hay, if
not fimilar to that in common ufe here ; and a
fmall quantity of the grain and roots, with the modes
of cultivation, — Procure the feeds and ftones of
fuch fruits as (hall appear to you of importance to
this country, or which are not known here, tropical
fruits only excepted, fmce there is little profpeft of
their fucceeding in this climate. This exception is
not, however, to apply to annual fruits* fince they
m?.y probably fucceed here.
Fourth* Remark any differences that may diftin-
guifti the cattle, either ufed for food or draft, in the
country you vifit, from thofe found here; make
notes of the variance, and communicate your ob«
fervations to the Prefidentor Secretary of tjie Agri-
C'lltural Society, in order that if any advantage
faould refult from their introduflion, the fociety may
take meafures to import them. -
■ - Fifth.
■«^4^
UNITED STATES.
229
Fifth. Be particularly attentive to the breed of
(heep, and whenever they Ihall appear fuperior to .
thofe of this (late, either in fize, or in the finene/s
or the quantity of the wool proportioned to the fize
of the (heep, (for fmall flieep may be very valuable
if their fleeces fhould be fine) to import if poffible
a pair of them, or a rim at leaft, particularly if you
fhould be able to obtain the flieep of Spain or Bar-
bary, which are among the mofl valuable, even
though rhey fliould not appear to you fuperior to
thofe of this country. Sheep from China would
alfo be defirabie, as would thcfe of the fine wool
kind from India, Angora. a\id other parts of Afia,
There i** alfo a fpecies of fine white long-haired goat
in Africa, the ikin of which is uied for muff^s ; it
would be defirabie to procure a pair of thefe if it
could be conveniently done.
Sixth, South- America affords a fpecies of fheep,
(the Vigone or Peruvian flieep) which, if introduced
and found to fuit the climate, would be an inva-
luable treafure. Fro'n the fame country, the Gulph
of Mexico, and the Bay of Hondoras, Cayenne, &c«
may be brought the Pecari, which is a fmall and
Angular fpecies of wild hog: this may, on experi*
ment, be found worth while to domefticate here, if
a pair of them could be conveniently procured.
Se'venth, If any lard or water fowl, not known in
this country, fliould be domefticated in the country
,u : yo'i
:>■
ajo
EXCURSION TO TH»
you vifit, you will procure a few of them ; among-
which may be remembered the Hoco of the Braziles
and Cayenne. It is nearly of the fize of a turkey,
black, and frequently domefticated. Jt is known
by various names. * ;
P S, You will obferve, that it is not expefted t' K
you (hould bring any fheep from Engla». J or Ire-
land, or any other country from which the expor-
tation is prohibited, as you are on no account ta
incur any perfonal rifk, or hazard the property of
your owners.
The Americans have now a confiderable trade,
dire£l to the Eail Indies, and China, which is very
profitable, as they have fo few drawbacks and du-
ties. While I was at New York, I went on board
the Fair American, which was juft returned from a
very profitable voyage thither. This, I fee clearly,
will one day or other, bring, on a rupture with our
£aft India Company, as they will be able to under-
fell them in moil foreign markets. Their Ihips are
well built for their trade, and make very quick
voyages. The Pegu went from Philadelphia to
China, took in a cargo, and returned within eleven
months. Ship building is dear, and coils at this time,
at New York, eight pounds ten (hillings Currency
(four pounds fixteen ihillings) per ton; and tho
wages
*
.... . >
UNITED STATES,
231
lies
m
wages to feamen from twenty to twenty-four dollars
per month. This is higher than common, owing to
the wars in Europe, having thrown a great part of
the carrying trade into their hands. For they tell
me, where they had ten ihips five years ago> they
have now> at lea(l« forty.
With refpeft to the mode of invefting money in
the American Funds, by a perfon living in En-
gland : When a Certificate of American Stock, of
any kind, i:! purchafed in '.ondon, the perfon in
whofe name the Certificate ftands, (De Berdt and
Co. is a houfe that fells) gives a Power of Attorney
to the purchafer, to have it transferred in his name:
w-ui this Power is given a Guarantee, by feme well
known refpeftable houfe in London, fpecifying that
the transfer fhall be made at the proper ofiice in
America, (if applied f • within twelve months) and
for the payment of the dividends, until the transfer
is made at the Bank of the United States. 1/ Bank
Stock, or if Funded Debt, it is at the Loan Offices*
After the purchafer has received the Stock Receipt,
Power of Attorney, and the Guarantee, he keeps
in his poflefTion the Guarantee, but fends the Stock
Receipt and Power to fome peribn in America, (or
fome houfe for him,) to have it there transferred
into his name ; referving, however, a copy of them,
atteiled by a Notary ; fo that in cafe it is loil at fea,
or otherwife, it may be renewed without injury to
the owner, after a fure method, well underilood.
The
■— i
'«- r.
23*
EXCURSION TO THE
The intereft is paid always in America quarterly,
but any American houfe (Bird, Savage, and Bird;
De Berdt and Co. &c.) will receive it for you, giv-
ing him a Power of Attorney, upon your paying a'
fmall commiiTion, fay a | per cent, on the money he
receives.
*
Of all the dates through which T have travelled,!
prefer, as an Englilhman, C onnedlimt ; and of the
country towns between Boflon and Philadelphia, the
pleafantefl to live at, in my opinion, are the follow-
ing : viz. Worcefter, in Maffachufets ; Springfield
and Hartford, in Conne£licut; and Newark and
Trenton, in the Jerfeys. I objed to New Brunf-
wick, though a neat, clean, well-built town^ on the
fide of a hill, becaufe it feems too fmall to afford
much pleafant fociety. The provifions there, I
found very indifferent and dear, neither does it ap-
pear to be a very fruitful foil, for there are but very
few gardens to be feen in its vicinity.
A German would probably prefer the Jerfeys, or
Albany, as being more inhabited by perfons from
his own country. I have heard it faid, at New
York, of an Albany man, that if a ftranger fpeaks
to him in Englifh, he will fcarcely open the upper
hatch of his door, but a fingle word uttered in
German or High Dutch, will make the whole
hatch fly open inflantly, and the perfon, whoever he
is» welcome to every thing in his houfe. Does not
m. ' this
.i
I ..
t
UNITED STATES,
233
this (hew a (Irong love of their own country? yet
feme ilronger principle operates on their minds to
leave it. , • .
They colleft no ty thes in America, the caufe, in
England, of fo many difputes ; the Clergy here arc
well provided for without it ; in fome lUtes by a
rate, in others by a free fubfcription.
There is very little wheat grown in the traft, of
country through which I pafled, for the reafon I be-
fore mentioned, but they grow a vaft deal of rye,
of which the country bread is pretty generally com-
pofed. The northern ftates are very adlive, dili-
gent, and profperous ; but the Hates fouth of Pen*
fylvania, tend very much towards indolence, luxury,
and vice. The lower clafs of tradefmen,. in the
Northern States are not the moft honourable, in
bufinefs: they will make as much out of you as they
can, and take every advantage. You mud, in your
concerns with them, trull to your own judgment,
and not leave your interefts to their keeping. Their
money circulation appears very limited, their capi-
tals very fmall, and the opportunities they conti«
nually have of laying out what money they can
muiler to great advantage, tempts them to break
their engagements, and keep your money as long in
their hands as pofUble. On this point they are not
at all fcrupulous. , . »- V- ;
1
'^:^
tfot^
«J4
BXCURSION TO THK
Notwith (landing the regulations, of their governw
ment to put a llop to flavery, which, indeed, has
been given up by Maifachufets, Conncdticut, Pen-
fylvania, and moll of the Northern States, yet yoa
fiill fee the Philadelphia papers dtigraced with fuck
advertifement» as ttie following:
^ohtdijpojtdoff.
** A Negro Lad, feventeen years of age, either for life, or »
term of years, as may Tuit the Purchafer. He has been ac-
cuftomed both to houfe work and farming. For further lA/*
formation enquire at the Office of the Aurora.**
February 23, 1794*
Their (hip building and carrying trade have won*
derfully increafed« within the lad three or four year»»
fince the war, on account of their prudent and wiiir
neutrality.
The tonnage in 1790, was as follows t
Tiielr own (hipping 479091 tons} foreign to their ports 25891^
' In I79« - 501790 — • 440799
179* - 56828J - oM 244263
The difference in the tonnage duty, and the ad*
dition of one tenth upon the duties on goods inw
ported in foreign bottoms, is a fufEcient encourage-
ment to their own (hipping trade, and in fome mea«
fure countervails our navigation aft, in its effe£l to-
wards themj at lead. To increafe this diiference in
* h Vt '^
CMITID STATI9.
'35
an enormous degree, as Mr. Maddifon propofed*
January 3, 179^ would, in my opinion, defeat iu
{elf; and this leems to be Mr. Smith's opinion.
Here we fee how much their own {hipping trade
has increafed, while their trade in foreign bottoms
has gradually leiTened. It is a doubt, however,
with many fenfible obfervers, whether the extenfion
of their navigation, does not, in a conPierable de-
gree, check population and agriculture, which ought
to be, for a long time« their principal national
Proportion of their Trade with Europe^ from Ja»
nuary i^to December 31, 1792.
»
EXPORTS,
IMPORTS,
VO THK AMOVNT OF
TO THK AMOVKT Of
Dollars.
Dollars.
a,oo5,907
to
Spain
and from 3 3 5.* 10
1,283,46a
m
Portugal
595,763 -
4»698»735
-
France
^,068,348
9,363,416
-
Great Britain
15,285,428
1,963,880
•
Holland
1,172,69a
aa4,4iS
-
Denmark
351.394
47,240
»
Sweden
Ruma
14,345
■' ■'. 't
Hanfe Towns
,v, •! ,'■
-^
Indies
'" ■.' -'. ■^ ■ -"•''" '
It
%'^i
EJCCURSION TO THE
It is remarked, that the United State* have flotr*
riihed more during the laft three or four years, than
thrice that time during any former period. This,
I obferve, is fince the federal conlHtution has come
into full exercife.
In England, the degree of liberty ijoe ha^je enjoyed,
IS confidered as the grand caufe of our greatnefs,
and fuperiority over other nations ; yet here, geniu»
is often cramped by poverty and misfortune, and the
exertions of a vafl body of people loft to the corn,
munity, by partial laws» chartered rights, appro-
priation s» &c»
a
a
n
It is not fo in the United States ; every man feels
himfelf equal in the eilimation of his country^ ao*
cording to his virtue and ufefulnefs> and the ftate
provides for his education. The civil rights of no
one are abridged on account of religious belief or
worihip ; and every one is at full liberty to follow
the bent of his genius^ uncontrouled in its exertions
by any of thefe impediments. Three fourths of the
people are adively employed in either agriculture,
trade, or commerce. There are but few idle drones
in the hive, and, with all thefe advantages, their
rapid progrefs to wealth and improvement is certain,
and muil be great beyond conception.
But, with all their improvements, they mnft yet
iox a long time come to John Bull for his cloth, for
#
VNITED STATE*.
*37
xt lead hair a century, I fhould fuppofe. Although
the Alleghany and other mountains, would do well
for ratf:ng a breed of fine>woolled (hcep, yet there
are, as I before obfcrved, many things at prefent '
againfl them; to which I may further add, the
number of wolves all over the bac^' .'ountry, which
would be deflroylng them continualty.
July 8, 1769* aa a£t paflfed the IcgiHature to lay
an impoft on goods, wares, and merchandizes, im-'
ported into the Un! red Str.- es ; and a repc^rt of the
produce being ordered to be mac' out by a com-
mittee, Mr. Gerry, on the 2.^.th of September,
J 789, from the commit xt, made the ;;bllowing
report to Congrefsi
( ( •
^
m
H
9t3S
EXCURSION TO THE
^n Ejiimate of the grofs Amount and neat Produce
■ efthe Impoft and Tonnage Duties for one Tear^
: 4tccordmg to the lateji Returns, "
In
K
Grofs Amount
of the Impoft.
Ditto of the
Tonnage Duty.
Neat Produce
of the Import
& Ton. Duty.
- 1789.
Dollars.
Dollar*.
Dollars.
Vvff Hampfhire
42,177
i,28z
a 1,491
MalTachufets
116,366
10,188
199,261
Conne£licut
76,824
3,ai3
72,450
New York
*45,i6s
l5>oi9
a45,3x6
Jerfey
11,336
240
10,514
^Philadelphia
376,841
18,003
361,405
Delaware
5,69*
443
5,654
Maryland
223,620
17,054
a",53iy
Virginia
i76.>85
18,687
186,470
Carolina
137,887
14,446
144,839
Ceorgia
3,7"
4,614
8,141
M95,8i5
103,189
1,467,080
■4^-
In
. D*'
VNITES STATES.
a3»
In the fpace of five years they have •
trebled in value, for in the year I794»
Mr. Smith ftates them before Con- Dollars.
igrefstobe v • . • ^ • *5, 500,000
■' . ' . ' ' • '\- '
To this add the -
Excife • - 400,000
Carriage Tax - - 150,000 •?
Sugar and SnufF - 90,000
Auftion Tax - 40,000
Wine and Spirit Li-
xences - - 100,000
Pod Office, and Surplus of Dividend 'ifiji
Bank Stock
S-L
780^000
70,003
Amountof National Income in 1794 - 6,350,000
And the Amount of their Nadonal Debt •
^ the iame Time • ' - i^>853,2oS
■•-; ..}
• This is confiderably larger than any former year, owing,
iMr. Smith faid, to the prodigious emigrations, laft year, to
their country; which he fuppofes will 1)6 diminished when
f eace takes place*
Zalarta
S4d
EXCURSION TO TKE
Salaries to the Legijlature*
*To George Waftiington, as Prefi,
dent of [the United States,
^^r«»«. 25000 dollars, or - ;^. 5650 o o
dJ
TTo John Adams,* as Vice Prefi-
dent, 5000 dollars, or • - 11 25 00
To each Senator during the Seflion, fix dollars per
day, and three more while travelling to and from
'Congrefs.
TToeach Reprefentativein the Lower Houfe, fix dol-
lars per day, and to the Speaker twelve dollars.
'* I met Mr. Adams at New York; he had come, the day
before, from Philadelphia to New York, in the ftage, and was
juft going on board the packet, for Bofton, I thought of Cato,
commended by the Hiftorian for his fimplicity of manners j af-
ter di£lating> in the Romap Senate, the fate of kingdoms, he
was to be feen riding home to his country houfe, on a little pad
nag, attended only by one fervant carrying his portmanteau.
Mr. Adams had juft determined the queftion in Congrefs, by
his fingle voice, whether there fhould be w^r between Grca t
Britain and America. A bill had paiTcd the Lower Houfe, to
prohibit all commercial intercoufc with Great Britain ; the
votes in the Senate Houfe, were equal, and Mr, Adams, as Pre-
fident, was called on for his vote, which he gave againft the
hiW, and it was loft*
!'V
The
-«.
UNITED STATES*
a4*
o
,, The mode of elcfilon is as plain and iimple at
l^ofTible. I was at New York during the ele£tion :
I faw no additional buflle in the fireets. The
names of the Candidates having been pabliflied, the
proper officers went about* through every ward*
door by door* and received each perfon^s vote, ia
writing fealed up, which was afterwards opened be*
fore the Committee, fitting in the Hall* and there
regiflered. No canvas by the Members f no holi-
day on the occafion ; no appearance of tumult or
Inebriation. The fums total for each Candidate
being made up, they are inferted in the newfpapers.
(I write this from my memory only* having n^fla^
the document.)
.^i j.K
-t):
The following circumftance occurred during that
cleftion : A lady of New York, of confiderable
property* and heirefs to the Lake edate* previous to
the above eleflion* fent feveral letters to her tenants
in the north part of the (late, to vote for General
Williams, as Senator for that diilridt ; one of thefe
letters came, by chance into other hands* and was
opened, by which means it became public. It was
univerfally reprobated as unconftitutional influence»
and notice was taken of it in the public papers. .
In Conne£licut, were a perfon to canvas, or come
forward with pretentions of merit* it would at once
do away all pretentions whatever ; for a man there
has no occation to make any exertions on his own
^C'^C M behalf f
.(-•,/,
;
^.
1«4«
EXCURSION TO THIS
ticliitf ^' and if deferving of deftion, ihould he ap-
^jp'car /dliCitbus, it would create fufpidons to his
rl ^'tt^jdbftraSi ofihi ASf of Naturalization,
)**'
*^ And be it further cna6led, that any alien, bcin^
fifree white person. Who ihall have reAded within
the limits and jurifdi£lion of the United States for
the term of two years; may be admitted to become
a cidzen thereof, on application to any common law
•Court of Record, in any one of the dates wherein
3ie fhalt have reilded for the term of one year, at the
Heaftf giving proof that he is a perfon of good cha-
radier, and taking the oath, or the affirmation, pre-
icribed by lawj to fupport the conflitution of the
JJnitei States.
'J4 vr --•^ifi'-.j ,,-.,v.^ 'j^.'ij. V;... ,,-- -^VS'- •^/■•■^■u ;■'■■''■ -.^.•i"■-
, Kcvei^elefs, no perfon heretofore profcribed by
any one of the dates, ihall be admitted a citizen, as
aforefaid, except by an A£i of the Legiilaiure of
that date, in which fuch perfon Was profcribed.*'
K.B. In the year 1795, ^7 ^" Aft of the Legif.
lature, thi^ qualification is required to be a five years
j-efidence, in confequence of the va(t influx of Euro*
jpeans, for the lad year or two pad*
S
■.. I :*
Mpitom
k&^
UNITED STATES.
jt
«4S
'Epitome of the Federal Government as in 1 7942
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,—
chofen by the citizens at large, every two years^^
qualifications, twenty «Ave years of age, and Teven
years a citizen — paid for their attendance^ fix dol«
lars per day out of the national treafury, (one.hun*
V dred and Ave- in number.)
\
as
THE SENATE, (two from «ach ftate) chofcn by
each (late government, every fix years—* divide thera-
felves, when they firft meet, into three clafles, one
of which goes out every two years, by rotation-
qualifications, thirty years of age, and nine years
a citizen — are paid for their attendance, fix dollars
per day, out of the national treafury, (thirty in
namber.) The Senate appoint all the public of-
ficers, none of which have any vote, or are futffeitd
to fit in either houfe. :£
.H
•
THE PRESIDENT of the United States, clea-
ed in the following manner : Each of the ftates (on
the fame day with each other) appoint a number of
ele^ors, equal to the Senators and Reprefentatives^
they laft fent to Congrefs— thefe meet and vote, by
ballot, for two perfons, one of whom is not to be an
inhabitant of their ftate. Thefe fifteen returns are
fent to the Prefident of the Senate, who opens them
in the prefence of both houfes, and whoever has
M 2 moft
y
^44
EXCURSION TO THB
noft votes Is chofen Prefident; (the next in num-
l>ers is Vice Prefident.) Qualifications, he mail be
thirty. five years of age, avid fc'\rteen years a re-
iident— he has a kind f^i negative d'a every bill, that
is, he may fend hick a b'll, ^o be . < '.oniidered, an-
nexing thereto his reasons xor noL iigning it, which
will oncafion the t'Ao houfes to reconfider it j but if
they iliil fee it uncbjcQionable, (rf two thirds ftill
vote for it) hey fend it to hinji, and he muft fign it,
without any further deinur He is never chofen for
more than i'our years j in his ficknefs, or abfence«
the Vice Prefident ihall a£l in his Head.
.*.
The Judges are appointed by Congrefs, and hold
their office quamMeu fe bene gejjferit* There is only
one Supreme Court, and Trial by Jury, as in En-
gland, whofe conl^itutional law they take for their
guide; — falary to Chief Juftice, four thoufand dol-
lars; to five AiTociate Judges, three thoufand five
hundred dollars each ; and to a Judge befides, in
«ach of the fixteen United States, from eight hun-
dred to one thoufand eight hundred dollarst All
are paid oat of the national treafury.
From' all that I have feen, read, and heard, I con-
clude America (I mean the Northern States) to be
a fine country, for an adlive induilrious man to live
in, whether he be rich or poor. Activity and ufe-
fulnefs are better recommendations than riches ; for
as iFranklin obferved, when a ftranger comes amongll
i ' ■ them
UNITED 8TAT£9»
245
them (be he ever forich) it is not enquired, what
is he, or who is he, but, what can he do, or is he a
pleafant man ? I think a man who has been in hi>
youth employed in a£tive life, by which he has ac«
quired experience and information, is fure to be well
received in America, and may conclude his life
happily. _
I (hall now conclude my account, with Dr«
Ramfay's elegant and energetic Addrefs to the
Americans:
t . ■■ " ' 1 . ■ . . ■ 1 . .-! 1
" CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES !
*' Tou have a fwelUbalanad conjiitution eftablijhed hy
general con/ent, which is an improvement on all republi-
can forms of governnent heretofore eftablijhed. It pof-
fejfks the freedom and independence of fi popular ajjemhly
acquainted *with the ivants and *VDiJhes of the people, hut
iwithout the capacity of doing thofe mifchiefs nvhich re-
fult from uncontrouled porjter in one aj^embly. The end
andobjeSi of it is public good. If you are not happy it
tuill be your own fault. No knave or fool can plead an
hereditary right to /port voith your property or your liber"
ties. Your laws and your law-givers mujl all proceed
from your/elves , Tou have the experience of nearly fix
thou/and years, to point out the rocks on vohich former
republics have been dajhed to pieces. Learn nuifdomfrom
their misfortunes. Cultivate jujiice both public andpri»
vate. No government ;. r. -..
^
^ /
H^
EXCURSION TO THB
rtgulatioHs an adopted, as 'will fecure ffoftrty as wtU
as liberty, sne revolution nvill follow another, jinarthyr.
monarchy, or de/poti/m, will be the con/equence* ^yj'ifl •
laws and the faithful execution of thenii public and pri"
*vate credit will be reftoredi and the refioration of credit •
naillbe a mine ofnjoealih to this young country » It will
make a fund for agriculture, commerce, and manufacm
tures, which willfoon enable the United States to claim an
exalted rank among the nations of the earth. Such are the
refources of your country , and fo trifling are your debts,
compared (with your refources, that proper fyflems,*wifelj-
planned and faithfully executed, will foon fill your exien-
five territory with inhabitants, and give you the com*
mand offuch ample capitals, as wtll enable you to run tht
career of national greatntfs, *u*ith'ad'vantagfs equal /#>
the oldeft kingdoms of'Europt* What they hew* been^
flowly growing to J in thg courfe ^fiear twffthoufand \
yearr, you may hope to equal within -one century ^ If you >
continue under one government i built onthefolidfoknda*'
tions of public juft ice, an, < public virtue, there is no points
of national greatnefs 1o which yau may not afpiret with^
a weH founded hdpt offpeedily attaining it, Cheriflt'
and fupport a reverence for government, and cultivate >
an union between the Eaft and Souths the jitlanti< and -
the Mifjifjippi, Let the greateft good of the greateft
number, be the pole-flar of your public and private de-
liberations. Shun wars, they beget debt, add to the^
common vices of mankind, and produce others, which are •
dilmo/t peculiar to them/elves, ^Agriculture, manufac-
tures, and (omnerce, are your proper buftnefs. Seek not
i9
UNITED STATEJ,,^
H7
H
1o, tnlargeyo^r territory hy conquejl ; it is already fftffic^:*,
entlyfxtfttjifve. Tou ha've amplt Jcope for tht employ^
ment of your moji a£iive minds, in promoting your oivrr
dofftefiix: bappinefs, Ma^Htain your on/uft rights, and Iti
all others remflin in quiet po^^on. of fheif ■.. Avoid dif»
cord, fusion, luptury, and the other vices *which havi
bejfn the bane, of commt^'wealths, Cherijh and rtward
th* philofopbers, thejinttfme^, and the patriots, *who d«-
vqte Mr talents and tim(^ at, the e^fivat^ of their pri*
niati: intetrtfs, to^ thi.JoiJj of enlightening and dire^,Ag.
thiir fellow, citizens, andjlhereby refcue citizens and XH^^
IfTA of rep^blicf from jthefof^nton, and toe often mtrited^
thargi , of ingti^titudt,. PxaQift indufiry, frugality »,
tep^rmut tnqdera{iont. an4 the *whpli lovely, fraitf of
repi^]fcfsnw{rtt»e^* . Banifijfrm yowr^ borders the liqjuid
fte pf- the Weji' Indies, vobieb, *wkik it entail^. pover^
eu^ , difeetfe, prevents induftry, and^ foi^nt.s pryiiot^
qifiorrils.. Feneratf thejflpuglf, thejjqe^.atui.alli.th^
itifpletnettts^ of agricultm/u HmQtur $he. ,la«fr^ vtho ,t^tk
tl^eirown b(in>ds. m/xintfi^ ^hetrfa/^il^es,^ ^n^d ,raife t^p^
clfildr^en to toil,. an4 capable „of defending theiif. eoutft^y^
RecMott the necejjity tf- labot^i^ not .a^png the curfes,, but th^
blejjings of life* Tour tonuns, vjill probably, ere Jong,, b^
engulphedin luxury and effeminacy, ^fyour libgrties an4
future profpe3s depended on them, your career of lih&rty^
would probably be Jhort ; but a great majority of your,
country, mujl, and 'will be, yeomanry, ivho have no other
d^pen4ence them, on Almighty God for his uf^al, blef
fing on their daily labour.^ FromJl^e great,. exc,efs. of
the,. number of fuch independent farmei[s in , th^e StatfSp
'i.
24S
IXCURSION TO THI
§ver and ahcve all othtr clajfts of inhabitants ^ thtlong
€ontJnumct of ytur lihtrt'tts may be reafonably prefumtd.
" Let the tapUfs Jfrican Jlcep undijlurbed on his na-
ii've Jhore, and give o*ver ihick in lefs than a century will probably contain fifty
' '^ T . , , miliions
UNITED STATES*
«49
miUiont of inhabitants. You have, with a great expend
of blood and treafure, re/cued your/el'ves and your pofterity
from the domination of Europe. Perfe£l the good *work
you have begun, by forming fuch arrangements and injii-
tutions, as bid fair for enfu. ing, to the prefent andfuturt
generations, the blejftngs for which you have fuceefsfullf
contended*
•* May the Almighty Ruler of the Univerfe, who hat
raifed you to independence, and given you a place among
the nations of the earth, make the American revolution an
ara in the hijlory of the nvorld, remarkable for the pro-
grejjtve increafe of human happinefs !** .
HAVING how completed my buflnefs, I agreed
for my paflage home, with Captain Smith> of the
Sanfcm, (the fame who brought out Dr. Prieftley)
for thirty guineas. He was to find me in wine*
porter, and provifions of all forts, and with every
neceiTary, except bedding and towels..
July 2. I flept on board, expefting to fail before
the morning, but fome of the American failors, from
a defire of once more feeing their fweethearts and
wives, jumped overboard, andfwam onfhore: we
loft that tide, and I had an opportunity of going
into the city, and purchaftng fome almonds and
M 5 raifins>
2SO
EXCURSION TO THE
nifina, apples and gingerbread, which are articles
I would particularly recommend to erery young
voyager, as the domach will often relifli thefc things*
ivhen other things become unpleafant and infipid.
They counteract the fait taile which brings on
^knefs.
yu/y 3 . At two o'clock , p . m . we weighed anchor*
and reached Sandy Hook that evening* where we
again anchored, on account of the return of the tide.
OA the beach, we faw the monument erected to the
memory of fome Englilh feamen, that were all
frozen to death, near the place, in the year 1782,
by a fudden fnow ilorm.
The next morning having a fine frefh breeze,
from the fouth, at five o'clock we again fet fail, and,
on our getting clear out of the Hook, our pilot left
us, in his little fkifF, which appeared hardly able to
buffet the waves, which how began to heave apace.
Before dinner* we had completely lofl fight of the
Neverfink, the lafl ridge of land vifible of the
American fhorCs.
I brought from the United States with me* of
live animals* two kinds of tortoifes* and a beautiful
flying fquirrel; of fhrubs and plants, rhododendron Sy
martegon lillies, tulip trees, acacias, Virginia cy-
prefiTes, magnolia glaucus, fugar maple trees* &c.
Of nuts, hiccory and chinquopin, or pea nut ; the
latter.
.,..4..
\2r UNITED! 8TATM«
^k
Icles
jung
|pid.
on
lor,
we
ide.
the
a]}
82,
latter, I find, is very common in Chint, a« a .nativi^
Chinere told me, when dining at my hioufi^, witlv
two gentlemen of Lord Macartney's faitt* fome o£
thofe nuts- being on table. ■« .
We now failed fouthward till we made latitodt
36. The weather being warm, multitudes of Ayin^;
filh were fcen rifing out of the water. They can
only fly in ftrait lines, about eighty or one hundred
yards, when their wings or long fins loofing their
moiflure, they fall again, expofed to the mouths of
the purfuing dolphins ; of the latter our CaptaiOr
ftruck a fine one with his harpoon, and brought it{
on board. It is a beautiful well-formed fiOi, very,
different from what it is ufually reprefented* Its.
forehead is high above the eyes, and formed fliarp
like the keel of a fhip or cutwater, by which means
it makes its way very fwiftly in the fea. It- feen^d
to die with all the agony and (hivering of a human,
being, and, changed its colour repe;Ltedly from a gold,-
colour. to an emerald green, tli^n to a beautiful
Saxon blue^ and amidil a variety of beautiful' tints^
like thofe on mother of pearl, it fijiced in a brpwd^
and white. We found it very good *o eat.
Our courfe was now changed to a northerly direc«
tion, till we made the Banks of Newfoundland*
Here we lay to, and caught fixteen or eighteen fine
cod. After this, when near the Wellern Idands^
M6 we
-*?
i^% ; EXCURSION TO THE
#e had fome very rough weather, and our mefs table
was often drenched with a heavy Tea, which pafled
through the light over the mefs room*^ ^^
yufy 20f It was a dead calm, fo as not to be
able to make lleerage way : at noon> found we were
in 45. 38. N. latitude.
y«^ 21. A freih breeze fprung up from the
W. S. W. The Iky continues overcaft and dull.
In the wake of the ihip, I now obferved a multitude
of little birds, about the fize of a lark, ccMitinually
rifing from the furface, and dropping again in*
ceflantly. The faiiors call them Metier Carey s
chickens, and think their appearance ominous, as
rough weather generally follows. ^i|if :sv:ii
■' In the evening, a large drove of porpoiies paffed
along, clofe to the ihip, whofe appearance feemed
to me quite formidable. They rofe almoft out of
the waves, and da(hed the water about them, like
ib many coach horfes trotting through a ftream
of water* The faiiors called them the hottk
vo/es.
**>■.*■'
'^i^^f»'*=r-4
"•i*,?"
July 26. At eleven at night, a flrange appear-
ance, like fire, was iwn on the north fide of the
(hip, on the furface of the deep, of the fize of a
doud, which continued for half an hour. The cap*
tain
UNITED STATES,
«53
a&
taiii thinks it was a whale amufing himfelf, by dafb»
ing the waves about him. I was rejoiced that he
did not favour us with his company.
The variation of the compa(s where we now are,
is confiderably more than what we found on the
American coafts. It was there one point and ahalf»
and it is here two and a half, or 28 degrees weft. A(
Saliibury> the variation is about 2 if degrees^
By fome inattention to our !og, we outrun our
reckoning, fo that when we were looking out for
Land's End, we found ourfelves faft running on the
rocks of Guernfey, and before we could wear fhiir
againft a ftrong wefterly wind, we were carried
within fight of the Coaft of Brittanny. Had but an
armed boat from France attacked us, we muft have
been taken, as we had not a iingle gun on board.
At length, by great exertion, we weathered the
rocks, got clear of all the breakers, and made
Alderney ; between which and our fhip, was a fmall
ifland, on which Hands the Cafkets: this is a large
handfome tower, with three lights, which, by means
of a rotative motion, with 'refle<^ors, are rendered
vifible and invifible alternately. It was a pleafant
fight to us during feveral hours of the night> for we
could fee them at a vaft diftance*
. :'4' *f *••*
(,*«R,«M-. ■
w«
■^
254
EXCtJRSION TO THE
We now flr«tched over the Channel, and had a;
view of the lile of Wight, from whence we (haped
our courfe to the Suilex Coaft^ We had next a di£*
tinfl view of Brighton, and could fee the company
walking on the Seine. At feven, a. m, we faw the
high land of Beachy Head (Iretching out beyond all:
the reft of thecoaft, and at eight, we were abread
of Shoreham^ A frigate is now making, towards
us. We next fee Ncwbaven, and the Harbour full
of (hipping; alfo Seaforth, and a large camp to the
eftA>of it upon the fea fhore, and, by our glaiTes we
dffcover a great many officer'i and foldiers looking-
at us. Ten o\lockt We are now opening another!
head land beyond Beachy Head, and dircover a
naii»of«>war at anchor in a bay, with auEnglilh.
' enfign hoiiled. We are going to hoifl our colours.
for the ftrft time on the voyage, (having never
fpoke a.iingleveAisl) in order to prevent the man-
* of-war firing a gun to bring us to, which we mufl:
obey, (or be fuak) which would hinder us a full
hour.
We are now clofe to Eaftbourn, in SulTex, and fee
the bathing muchines, and the company walking the
Beach. Hailings next appears, and another camp
on the heights near it, - .
■'4
The fun now fliines mild and pleafant. The pea^^
creen hue of the fea contrafted with the ripe brown \
jsvv . colour
UNITED STATES*
XSS:
colour of the corn fields* partly reaped and piled in
ridgesy like armies of men ; as well as the occafional
mixture of green meadows and fields, and a clear
blue fky, form a fcene of the moft lively land, and*
highly pi£turefque.
Winchelfea now appears on the top of a ridge^
almofl covered with trees ; and near it are tents^
foldiers, and horfes ; fome exercifing. The Diana»
a feventy-four gun (hip, furrounded by a fleet of
tranfports, bound for Cork, next meets our view.
Then Bye, one of the cinque ports, from whence
a pilot boat puts off to meet us. Our Captain,
finding he belonged to Hythe, (the next port eaft*
ward,) treated with him to take his bag of American
letters.
After this, we hailed a boat belonging to Dover j
and, being impi nt to land, eight of us paifengers
agreed with him for four guineas to land us there.
On our arriva!, the Cuftom-Houfe Officers came on
board as u'nl, to examine our luggage, wiiich was
taken to me Cuftom Houfe.
At the York Hotel, we regaled ourfelves with
good tea and frefh cream, new bread and butter, &c,
which was the greateft treat imaginable, after being
on fhipboard two and thirty days. The next day
I arrived fafe in London to my great iatisfattion ;
wr
256
EXCURSION TO THE
and, what is remarkable, though never before out of
fight of land, I did not once experience the leafl:
ficknefs or illnefs, by fea or land, during an excur-
fioHsOf near eight thoufand miles.
^5. '
>♦. •:.* vii-t4t'
'■'"■'- *-■'■•- 1«.
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APPETC-
[ 457 J
:w.:-
APPENDIX.
'!■ " - ■ t' I- ■ ■ •
NOTES.
-M;'^
'. J 1 •^.-■v. k;** ',; •
I.
ri THE State of ConneOicut, originally held fivt
millions of acres of land, adjoining to Lake Erie» of
which it took in part. Of this faid land, five han*
dred thoufand acres had been granted in 0£lober»
1 792, as a compenfation to thofe inhabitants of Ne>v
London, Fairfield, Croton, Norwalk, and Danbury^
who had fuffered by the burning of their towns^
during the American War.
In OiSlober, 1793* * ^^^^ ^^-^ brought in, to ap-
propriate the remaining four millions five hundred
thoufand acres, in the following words: " Be it
enafted by the Governor, Council* and Houfeof
itc-
»58
APPENDIX.
Reprefentatives, in General Court alTembled, that
the monies arifmg from the fale of the territory be*
longing to this ftate, lying weft of Penfylvania, be,
and the fame is hereby ^ftablifliedj a perpetual fund,
the intereft whereof is granted, and fhall be appro-
priated to the ufe and benefit of the feveral eccle-
fiadical focieties, churches, or congregations, of all
denominations in thi3.ilater,tQ.,beL. by them applied
to the fupport of their refpedlive mmiilers, or
preachers of the gofpel, and fchools of education,
tinder fuch regulations as ihalllie .adopted by this, or
fome future feflion of the General Affembly.'*
Mr. Stanley, Member for Bc;rlin, delivered an ex«
cellent fpeech, of three quarters of an hour long, to
urge the Houfe to refcind the vote of laft Odober
Seflion ; alleging that the refolution made by the
^mer-Hotiffu .tr#ȴhe4 jupon the^rights of the pre*
fant rand -of, all i future ; General Aflembliw. Inafit
niflQbc ^ as tho\)gk , no immediate . appropriatioii o£
tliofc l4»4« WAS! at -all ne^eiT^ry* or could pofl»bly«
take place rftt prefect, yet that Houfe had proceeded,
ibiar, a» to direct all future legiflators, how the pron
dttc^.of ; the. fatd lands fhould be appropriated; a
rigV::, he afferted, that they wer^e, npt warranted to.
exercife, and againft which he fully expelled the
pfsefeul Hoftfei; would, make fopie dficifixe, refo-
l&U QrwgCithjp Mem^c.% Suffi<;W^ w«is againft
tht
AFP£NDrX#
25^
th€ approprifttion of thje money to the: objeAs men*,
tioned oa other accoants* He faid^ « it was wdl:
known, that in no part of the United States whatever^*,
was poblio^ddcAtion at this time better attended to»i,
than in I Connecticut. Their clexgyi of erery de^
nomination, were well provided for^ their fchools.
properly /upported> and religion and moraUty hadi
their, due -weight in: fociety^ Why then fell out
lands, or appropriate (them to parpofes not wanted 2;
It appears from our public accounts, that we are not
in{ want of fmonoy; if we Jook at the ftate of our
finances^ they are. flonrtihingi The ftate to all itr
creditors, owes but three hundred and thirty thou«t
fand dollars, and^ the debt due to us from Congrefai»
amounta to fix hundred and nineteen thooiand.onei
hundred and twenty*one dollars ; fo that upon the.
balance^ our funds can at any time pay> at the letft^
fiye and twenty ftullings in the pound.? n ^ ^ ' : k;"?
■■...I
General Hart and fome others, fpoke in favor of
the fale of them. Mr. Phelps remarked, *' that one of
the great errors in the old governments, and the
caufe of the decay of true genuine Chriftianity, was
thie making their clergy independent of the people*
and forming eftablifhments for them. We fee aa
as early as the time of William the Conqueror, iit
the conduct of Lanfrac, and after him* Thomas a-
Becket, and many others ; that all the meeknefs of
of the Apoftle was foon loft in the love of domina-
tion. Religioa was by them, under thefe circumn
fiances^
,#
i6o
APPENDIX,
^X ..-
■.*:
fiances, an infirqment to attain worldly confequence^
pomp, and authority. And this had continued to
be the cafe ever iince, notwithdanding occafional
reforms had taken place, for they had contrived to
refume their power. On thefe accounts, he was
firongly again ft apportioning any part of the public
lands, for an independent fupport of the clergy."
The queftion was put by Mr. Dagget, the fpeaker^
and the bill was loft— •! 14 againft 56*
. i,.
The Government of this ftate confifts of a Go^'
vernor, a Lieutenant-Governor, and twelve Aflift«
aLi\iSt> ^vho form the Upper Houfe ; and one hundred
and feventy-feven Reprefentatives for the different
towns, who conftitute the Lower Houfe* They are
re-ele£ted every year, at which time no perfon is
fuiFered to canvafs for votes, as they carefully
guard againft any perfonal influence during tbe
cleftion. * . • . .
*■'.-■* '^" ^"i'n
■->, 'T V.N* . »-,
The carding and fcribbling engines, at Hartford,
were of the oldeft fafliion. Two large center cylin*
ders in each, with two doffers, and only two working
cylinders, of the breadth of bare iixteen inches, faid
to be invented by fome perfon there. They had no
fpinning jenni* s, the yarn being all fpun by hand.
They were fcribbling deep blue wool, of the quality
of
APPENDIX.
26f
of WUtlhlre running fine, for making coarfe broad
cloth ; the fpinning was very bad, the wool not being
half worked. I faw in the weaving (hop, fivelooms>
two on broad cloth, two on coarfe caffimeres, with
worded chains, and one on narrow or foreft cloth.
They gave the weavers nine -pence per yard curren-
cy, for the caflimeres, i. e. fixpence three-farthingi
ilerling; dear enough, con Adering the largenefs of
the fpinning. They could weave fix yards of broad
cloth in a day, I faw there fome very good well-
combed worded. They fort a fleece into feven
forts. I obferved fome very fine wool there, which»
they told me, came from Georgia, but it was in bad
condition. The concern is carried op by a com*
pany ; nine thoufand three hundred dollars have
been lent towards the undertaking, by the State.
None of the partners underftand any thing about it«
and all depends on an Englifhman, who is the forter
of the wool. Mr. £li(ha Colt, a fbre-keeper, or
woollen-draper, has the prefent diredlion of it, but
he is going to fettle in another place very fliortly.
He (hewed me every part of the manufadlory, and
afterwards, at his own ftore, twenty or thirty pipces
of cafiimere, broad cloth, elaftics, and narrow
cloths, of the Hartford manufa£lure. He could fell
them at about the fame price, 1 found, as our £n-
gli(h goods would cod, when delivered into the
dores there, but the fabric was very poor, and hard
in the fpinning, and very badly drefTed, and there*
, fore very inferior to, and dearer than the Briri(bj
loaded
162
APPENDIX.
loaded with all the expenccs of freight, inAirance,
:Hierchant*s pr -iv., md feven and a half percent, duty.
Morfe, in his Geography^ fays, *« This t wn en-
ters largely into manufafturc." Her? as well as in
many other places, he certainly writes under a (IrOBj;
prejudice in favour of his own country, ^
.^.,.„i
• t*' /;.
r-
""■t
'» r
W
m.
• The fugarmaple, is a tree that I Ihould ftrppofe
'vould grow in this country as well as in many parts
of Europe. In Connecticut, it is expofed to as fe-
vere winters as any in this ifland. I have a tree in
my garden, feven feet high, that hasllood the {ie-
veire winter of 1794. The chief thing to attend to,
IS to fee it planted in good rich foil. Thofe fettlers
in America, who dear the lands, always begin with
cutting down the fugar maples, becanfe they are
. generally found on the richeft and befl land.— This
is one reafon why America will not be fufiicient to
fupply its own fugar,
i" ..... .'l**^ f ■ t'. . l^ ■ '.VI ■
I was given the following as the method in which
they make it: Draw oiF the fap into wooden veffels,
by wooden taps fixed in the bark, feven feet from
the ground. Boil it always the next day ; — provide
three kettles of different fizes — fay» of fifty, fixty,
' 9iid feventy gallons ; boil it iirft in the largeil kettle>
v., „- ... adding
APPENDIX, afil
adding as much lime, as will make the liquor gra-
nulate; as it boils, take off the fcum, encreafing the
heat* till it evaporates to fixty gallons ; then drain
it through a woollen cloth into the fixt3r gallon kettle.
This mud boil and be (kimmed in the fame manner*
till it is reduced to hfty, and then be ilrained into the
£fty gal' V. And each kettle muft be or .
tinued in u< . till you have boiled your whule
quantity, j hundred gallons. ^
When it is boiled enough, which is known bf its
becoming ropy between the finger atid thumb, it it
turned out into a wooden cooler, and ftirred with a
kind of wooden paddle, till it granulates ; and tiien
it is put into earthen moulds, in the fame manner as
the Weft-India planters pradife.
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IMAGE EVALUATION
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Hiotographic
Sciences
Corporation
33 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80
(716) 872-4503
"^W
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^64.
APPENDIX.
Ai
.^ ,iV
.S many perfons have wHhed to know how far a
tafte for Literature prevails in the States, I have an-
nexed a
Lift of/omc of the Books J^.
Which han't anfwered to reprint there, *with the names
tf the Towns, and dates vthen reprinttd; together
*with original' Publications of their ovin*
Beiides which it is to be underftood, that there is
annually a vaft importation of Books from England,
Scotland, and Ireland, and that it would not be
worth while to re-print there, unlefs the demand
was greater than could be conveniently fupplied from
Europe. When matters of faQ are jlated, efvery body
may judge for themfelves, >
V*^»,i.
O B VB R A L neat editions of the Bible, at Philadelphia^
New Tori, Bofton, and all the principal towns.
New
^ p"
'♦^^i
Xfpbndix,
16 j.
New Teftament* ?r/«/Mr, 1788
Robertfoh's Hiftory of India^ PhilM/tipbia,iyg2
Price's Obfervadons on Civil Liberty. PhikuUlpbia,
1776
Paley's Principles of Moral and Practical Philofo^
phy, Philadelphia, 1787
Watts's Pfalms, 4th edition, Ntw Tori, 1792 and
"793
Doddridge's Rife and Progrefs of Religion in the
Soul, Philadelphia, 1 791 and 1794
Encyclopedia, P>&//a^i^/&/ N a V LanghorneVl
-tes
APPENDIX.
Jjanghorne's Fables of Flora, Philadtlpbia, 17S4
iMSaXk^s Poems, Philadelphia, I790
Cowper's Talk, Bojion, 1791
Cowper's Poems, Salem, 1792
Peter Pindar's Works, i»i&/7«
»
Index to the fiible, Salem, I792
Belknap's American Biogra^y, Bd/foH, 1794
Examination of Sheffield's Obfervations on the
Commerce of the United States^ Pbiladelpbid,
1791
Univerfalifl's Catechifm, Port/mouth, N, E, 178*
JHiftory of the Sute of Vermont, by Dr. S* WtU
Hams
Bartram'a Botanic Travels through Oeorgia tnd
Florida
Gookin's Hiftoric^ CoUeQions of the Indiani b
New England, Bofton, 1793
Hutchinfon's Hiftory of Maflachnfettt
Hazard's Hiftorical Colkdion of State Papers
Minot's Hiftory of the Infurre^tioa in 1786 -andl
1787, Bofton 1790
Smith's Hiftory of New York, fublijhed by Carey tf
Pbiladelpbia
liCtters from an American Farmer by Hector St.
John
Goftavus of Sweden, a tragedy, Bofton, 1793
^■1
INDEX.
Abstract of the Kd of NaturafisAtioii
Adams* John, Vice President 82— compared
to Cato - - •
Account of the Yellow Fever f •
Addrcfs to Dr. 2 iieftlcy .• *
Alom found - • . - •
American Funds, how to purchafe in «
Anti-Fedcralifts defcribed • 761
Apple Trees flripped of their Bark to reno-
vate them \ - ^ » •,
Articles beft to be taken over to America
Aipinwal, Mr. a public fpirited Man ^ •
9m
24s
J40
73
164
231
112
61
81
48
Albeilos found
Ni
51* ia«
BachCif
INDEX,
fi
Bache« Franklin • •
- 121
Bancroft^ Dr. his Patent
87* ao9
Belvidere, Profpeft from
. s»
Barrington, in Nova Scotia •
• H'
Bartram, the Botaniil
- 140
Bay of Fundy, a remarkable Tide there
- 16
Beavers, good Clearers of Land •
- 196
Bingham, Mr. *
123, 124
Bifliop of New York - •
- 7«
Books, Lift of, reprinted 264 — Original Pub-
lications . • ■
. a66
Bofton defcribed 18— Obeliik on Beacon Hill
25— Long Wharf and Harbour
- It
Brant, Jofeph -
• 155
Branno&'s Tea Gardens
. 205
Briffot
34' 36' 56
Briftol r • .
- 94
Brockfield . v
• 35
Boll Frogs • • •
. 89
Bunker's Hill
- 21
Burke, Mr* his enormons Penfion
- »57
Bugs , • . .
20, 36, 97
BufliHill
^ »34
Butter and Cheefe bad> and why
- 225
Cape
^
I^DBX,
Cape Cod • - ' » 5 1/
Cape Sable - - - - *5
Caillot, late Governor of Guadaloape •. 124
Carey, Map and Print-feller at Philadelphia 133
Cenfus . . • • • • 34a
Chinquopin, a Nut common to China and
America only • * ^ • • 250
Charlefton* near Bofton • • 28
City Tavern, at Philadelphia - • ' 97
Chrift Church, Philadelphia ^ - 123
Clinton, General • • 67
Clearing Lands 181 — coil of - . 196
Coafting Packet Boats, clean and neat - 56
Cochineal Fly, fuppofed - "49
Coins of the United States - • 154
College of Cambridge - - 22
■ of Newhaven - - jo
■ Columbia . • ^ • 72
Confeffion of Dort - - 71
Connecticut, its River 37, 43 — its Govern-
ment modelled by the famous Locke 41
Controverfy in Politics friendly to Liberty 77
Congress fitting - - 98
Cotton Manufa£t6ries - - 6S, 188
Country Towns that feemed mofl preferable 232
Cuftis, George Walhington • - 11 a.
Ns
Debates
INDEX.
Debates jn Houfe of AfTembly at Hartford
Pebt of the United States
Difconiblate« a Frenchpian - •
Pelafield" . . ^
Delaware - .
Democratic Society at New York
Difficulty of keeping Servants
Dpbfon* fiookfeller
Drefs of an American Officer
Drill Ploughs obferved •' •
Dutch Reformed Church
40
176
198
57
68, 93
7*
85
121
43
9}
7i
E
Eaft India Trade of the Americans
230
Effeft of General Wafhington's Death
■ 177
EleAioneering without noife or buftle
241
Elizabeth Town
85, 194
Elizabeth Town PaiTage Boat
207
Epitome of the Federal Government
243
Eftates, ptice of> in the Jerfeys
"94
Exports and Imports compared
m» ^iS
Exports, Table ©f - -
242
N V ,
.■ V*.
«
» ♦
■■(■.
Fedemf
♦ -v
noriir.
F
Federal H>1I ... U
Federaliils defcribed • •
Federal City defcribed ^^ •
Fevers, at Newhaven 53«-atThiladclphi«
Fire Flies defcribed
Flag, Captain
Flat Bufli • . '•
Flax
Funds, American, how to purchafe
Flocks of fheep, fmall
Frankfort
Franklin, Mrs. 67— Dr. Franklin
Franklins, Mifs
Franklin Library •
Freeman, Rev. Mr*
ai3
126
197^ 210
48* ^7* 199
231
f6
96
99* "7
189
117
Gaol Regulations at Philadelphia » t^$
Gates, General . - - 64
General Obfervations on Conneflicut 54 — on
Philadelphia 172— on New York 57*219
Genet, the French Ambaifador 60, 62, 82
Gravefend, in Long iiland • . 210
Gr6y*8 Gardens ^ ^ 141
N 6 Cxove
i^-
r,i.'"
INDEX* ■ .'^. v-;.\..,
Orove> Mr. vifit to - - i56> 17!
Governor's Ifland . - 66
iGreek and Latin going out of Faihion in
/ America - - - 198
*:«.
;,;*47^ v.-,^^: ]^
Hbuu-lem .'' -^iW ^■^"'/'V . -..^i-t. ./v'-. 205
Haldenj Charles^ a Vidim to his Humanity^ 136
HaUfax - . - * >* 3
Harrow*gate Gardens - -"^175
Hartford, in Conpe£Ucut ' r «r, 40« iii> 116
Hagar's Town . - ; ^. • >.*. 166
Havord College ' - * 22
Hackney Coaches at Boflon « - 23
'Hell Gates, it Eddies accounted for - S^»7^
Heffian Fly - - 46, 88
Heffian Troops farprifed by General Walhing.
ton ./ - . 02
Hories, good for travelling — a Danifli one coft
100 Dollars - • 46
HotBaths - ;-»:,. . 9«j
Hudibn's River - «* ^ ».
Hurt, Rev. John 212 — his Opinion of Land
,#-.
Furchafes
.#
i. vV .
212
\ :■«.
Jamaicaj
INDEX.
•^ -■■:
Jamaica^ in Long Ifland - - 199
Iced Creams and Liquors - 118^205
Importance to Great Britain the increaiing
" Population of the United States ** 30
' Indian Chief, his peculiar Notions - 64
Indian Deputies at Philadelphia • 154
Indians, Mickmack c— Montaick - 200
Inftruflions to Sea Captains •' *' ^* 227
Journey of J. Prieftley to Northumberland 159
Iron Ore on Conne^ut River
K
>,■>■ f'
■--•♦#
\, , .
,;,-.^"S. ,^ v,.-^.
Kofciofko wi^ru- ^ V *
Kentucky Lands« beft next to it
,'^*.
4«
21Z
"1 .•^■
Land, its increafed Price
Lands, Military, fold by Audlion
Lee's Speech in Favor of England ;%.
Legiflator, Qualifications for
Leicefter - » ' ^ '
Liberality of the Epifcopalians 204^Bofton
excepted - - - . 24
Library^ public^ at Philadelphia • « * 117
•^5
211
99
243
34
INDEX.
lift of the Deaths during the Yellow Fever at
Philadelphia^ compared with the former
Year - - ^ -
127
Literature . -
264
Liverpool^ in Nova Scotia> defcribed
9
Livingftone^ Chancellor
H
Livingfton, Governor -- ^ -'
8s
Loghoufe* one defcribed • 39,
161
Long Ifland - , - 62, 197J
210
Loring's Lodging Houfe, Mrs*
60
Loyalfoc Settlement - • 6I1
165
M
Malt Liquor but little brewed, and why 224
Malkin's Eifays* Extrad from - iCy
Mammoth, huge Teeth of the • js
Manufadofies of Woollen defcribed 29, 32, 42, 20S
Marlborough Pond - ♦
Maple Sugar Tree
Members in Congrefs, Number of
Mickmack Indians -
Mifflin, Governor, his Cottage
Miftakeof BriiTott's
Montgomery, General f
Morfe, Jedediah
Muncy Creek
Murlegafli Fifliing Vcffels
Muiketoes « * «
■■':'-).^i<:
33
54
118
iM4
- 79
28, 48
84, 201
Negroes^
■H5f" ■ ".
INDEX.
•^V,t^,
N
■ iV'^ \
Negroes* their natural Indolence accounted
for 39— Sick ones provided for by Law 41
Negro Houfes ... 86
Nelhaminy Bridge defcribed - • 96
Newark - • ,- - 84,185
NewBrunfwick - >. 88,183
Newhaven - - . ■* 49,129
New York, Account of 57— its increaiing
Population - - - 221
Newipapers at Bofton 29—31 New York 59
— at Springfield • ♦ 37
Noailles, late Vifcompte de - •» 124
i f'
o
Obfervations on their Manufa£lo-
ries. Woollen and Cotton 52, 61, 69, 2o8
Obfervations on Philadelphia 172— on 1
New York w • 57, 219
Oeller*s Hotel - - - .118
Oil extraded from Sun-flower Seeds - 48
Ofgood, Mr. - • 1* 67
P
Paper Mills
Parker^ Colonel
34
98, 179
Paterfon
»
i^ateribn Manufactory . 6i, i88
Patriotic Inftrudlions given to all Captains
and MaftersofVeiTels . 227
Paul's Churchy New York « 203
Peach Trees - - _ •. 4J6
Peale*s Mufeum - - 121
Penn, William - - 96
Pigs fed with Peaches ' - - : 46
Philadelphia, firft fight of - - 97
Piatte*s Obfervations on Penfylvania - . i6t
Pine Apples raifed near fioilon •• 54
Playhoufe,yJf Theatre
Population of Bofton 29~of Hartford 45
— of New York 221— of Philadelphia 175
Prieftley, Mr. ^ - - 60, 180
Prieftley, Dr. - 72, -j^, 90, 156, 189, 193
Pilmogeniture, no Rights attached to it in
Connedlicot » . - 44
Prince-town - . - g^
Proviiions, Price of, at Trenton 182 — at
New York 225 — at Philadelphia - 151
Prolific Families common in the United
States - - 39, 191
Public Buildings at New York 78— at
Philadelphia . - 117,144
lUmfay, Dr. his Addrefs to the Americans 245
Rariton River '^^k' - - 88
Reafott
INDEX.
Reafon why Dr, Prleftley was not afked to
preach - - 205
R«afons fbr the Federat City being fixed
where it is « v • ^16
Religious Prejudice - •' • 203
Remarks of JefFerfon's on our Government 107
Return to New York - - 179
Revenue >of the United States • 176
Rivington, James . . 206
Road from Bollon to New York 51— to PM.
iadelphia . . 8j
Rodgers, Dr. his Illiberality - 71
Roles for the Philadelphia AfTembly - 120
Rye fown in preference to Wheftt> and why 46
Sale of Lands by Auftion at New York
Salaries to the Legiilatore , •.
Sands, Comfort >. *^
Sea retired
Sequeftration of Briti0i Debts confidered
Sheep • . *
Shenandoah Valley
Shelburn, or Port Rofeway
Shipping, increafe of -
Silkworms bred
Simcoe
Skuylkil - ?
' --
240
49
178
86
166, 2IZ
n
an
48
I43« 141
Slavery
INDEX*
Slavery not aboHflied . .
Smith, the commoneft Name in America
Snakes with two Heads
Soap, a cheap domeilic kind
Society (of pronioting Agricolture, Sec,
Sounds dividing Long Ifland from New York,
grows narrower «
Spencer - - •
Spinning and Carding Machines
Springfield Plains •- •
Springfield, in Jerfey 207— Manufaflories
there . • ' .
Stages from Philadelphia
State-houfe at Philadelphia defcribed
State-gardens
Staten Ifland . . .
Statute Labour in Long Ifland
Stocking Looms - ^ •
Stocks, American • •
Sugar of Maple at Table
Sulphur Springs difcoveredj
fiuperftitious Cuftom with a Horfe-lhoe
2J4
51
199
227
49
36
42*, 68, 20S
37
20^
152
99
117
207
20s
116
43*47
172
M.
tTayterand, late Bifhop of Autun . fiS
Theatre at Bofton 23— at New York 59 — \
Philadelphia - -.j^ .113
Thomas, Ifaiah, a famous Bookfeller - 34
!r - 144, 163
32
17
165
37
123
46
90
169
^37
33
206
Yaledollege - * 50
Yellow Fever - - 125
Yonge« Sir George's Manufactory at Ottery 53
\ 1
I'age 53, fine 19, for as, read has*
«. 63, •— 5, from xhchottom, for owning tteiiicvfingt
•» 79, w i$f for Trinity Churcbf tcAi St, Paurs»
— 124, ~ I, for father f tei6 grandfather,
— 151, —• 7, for i/ ii, read /ifc^ are.
•— 194, — 5, from the bottom, for is, read are,
«M a29| — ■ 22, for HotideraSf read Honduras*
DireSUotts for placing the Flaies^ ^<%
The Profile to face the Title. ^ ,
The State-HouCe, page T17. >
Table of Eji^ortsand Qcj^us, fagea4z«