Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/92

 82 Donmients continually passing, bringing it from the contiguous Towns of which there are a great number, the Schulkill has 3 bridges lay'd on large logs of wood over it. at the town of Greys is a pritty Garden which in summer is lighted up to serve as a Vauxhall ; there is also another Gar- den of the same nature 4 Miles on the Frankfurt road call'd Harrowgate from the similitude its waters have to those of the same name in Eng- land. having seen as much of the country contiguous as circumstances wou'd permit, and finding that my plan of passing to New York by Bethleham cou'd not be effected without my staying till May when those stages then begin to run, I embark'd the 27th. April on board a boat to Burdlington which lys 30 Miles up the Delawar. nothing can be more delightfull than this voyage for the Banks on each side are decorated with small Towns or country houses, this conveyance however has its inconvenience as I fatall}' e.xperienc'd, for the wind which was fair at setting off changing, and the tide changing agt. us we were forc'd to come to, and did not arrive at our destination till next morning; from hence we set out in a stage for Amboy. the road rather rough, the country rich and pritty well settled. Amboy is 40 Miles from Burding- ton and is only a single house which is an Inn, we arriv'd here at 2 oClock, and immediately embark'd on board the packet, having a fair wind, our Voyage was delightfull the coasts of Statin Island, the Jer- sies. and long Island affording a most delightfull scene also a distant view of the hook, but after we had got through the narrows, it fell suddenly calm, and the tide about sun-setting changing, we were forc'd to Anchor within 6 Miles of the Town, and pass'd a very cold and un- comfortable night on board, in the morning of the 29th. we again got under way but it being quite calm we did not get to the Quay before 10 oClock by which delay however I had an opportunity of contemplating the beautifull prospects that surrounded us. the distance of Amboy to new York is 30 Miles, and is generally run in one tide. nothing can be more beautifull to the eye or advantageous for com- merce than the Situation of New York, it is in a corner of the Island, form'd by the North or Hudsons river, and the Channel or East River, the Quays are mostly (for ships) on the East river, and from the Battery where is the Govt, house (a massive but not an elegant building) and where they are making a beautifull parade, is as fine a view as the eye can wish ; the town has some very good houses in it. the Hall, the Churches, and Hospitals are all good or handsome buildings, the Streets are irregular and some of them very narrow, but the pavement at present is very good; commerce here is very advantageous, and most people are at their ease, some indeed rich, they deservedly have the character of being hospitable, to strangers, and I think in general are more easy than any of the other States, young people marry here very early, and either old Maids or Bacheldors are rare. as they have an easy comnnmication bv the North river to the in-