Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/96

 86 Documents about 4 Miles before one gets there is an eminence which commands the most deHghtfull country I ever saw, really it appeard not inferior to the vale of Evesham and the river simular to the Severne ; the town seems pritty large tho" stragling. it is 15 Miles from Hartford, on our way home we mounted the hights of Rockey hill a small Town 7 Miles from Hartford, where we again were gratifyd with a beautifull view. Weathersfield is 4 Miles from Hartford and is a pritty large and well built town. having amply gratify 'd our curiossity in this fine country, we with some difficulty got a Waggon (cover'd) to carry us across the country to Albany, and on Sunday the 12th. (having obtaind a written permis- sion from the Mayor on account of the day) we set off. the country was pritty well cultivated to Farmington (12 Miles) where we got to breakfast, the road good; a very fine river serpentines through these plains, and joins the Connecticut river at Windsor, from hence the road became worse and the country hilly and little setled. we din'd at New Hartford 12 Miles a small villiage; a Mile from hence the green woods began, the road now became horrid and scarcely passable for a carriage, we mounted several very steep hills, and the rocks and stones made it difficult to proceed; now and then we met a small settle- mertt in its infancy, but from the general aspect of the country, I shou'd judge when it is once very well setled that it will be very beauti- full. the air as it lys high is purer and cooler than the plains; we lay'd at a small villiage call'd Colebrooke 12 Miles and really our quarters were much better than I expected, they told us here that even now they sometimes saw Panthers in the woods, and wild cats, besides deer and other game ; early next morning we proceeded and at the end of 4 Miles found a small villiage call'd Norfolk which is counted out of the hilly wood land, we breakfasted at Canaan a small town 4 Miles prittily situated, the country now appeard better setled. hence we went through Shiffield' a small town to Great Barrington where we din'd, 14 Miles, the road good, the country hilly but pritty well setled. this is a small town its situation fine being in a valley where a river runs through, we lay'd at a small villiage call'd Stockbridge 13 Miles near where are some Iron works, next Morning we breakfasted at New Lebanon^ 14 Miles, passing through Richmond 3 Miles a handsome town and prittily situated; the road good, and country well cultivated. Lebanon is very extensive, in its district or Parish which extends 10 or 12 Miles as is the case with most of the towns in this new country are several Establishments one in particular very' singular call'd the Shaking quakers street, these people being of both Sexes live in a state of celibacy, even those marry'd before on coming here are sepa- rated, they are very industrious have cleard a great deal of land and have got good buildings, on Sunday they pray, and what is unaccount- ' Passing now from Connecticut into Massachusetts. 2 In New York.