Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/113

 pastures; in the north, plenty, well stocked with beeves or {93} bullocks of enormous size and weight. We passed the bare Hessian bank, a sandy bluff on the river, so called; where, during the revolutionary war, a post of poor hireling Hessian soldiers was surprised and destroyed by the rebels. This spot, it is said, is haunted by spectres, and the grass, therefore, has never since grown upon it. We landed in the city, at one o'clock, p. m. having travelled 800 miles in four days, with a rapidity seldom equalled. The city, viewed from the river, is neither imposing nor interesting, nor does it present any thing striking, until you reach its centre. Quitting the good ship Wade Hampton, which is formed of a part of William Penn's noble tree, under which he made peace with the Indians, I put up and dined at Jud's good hotel, with my southern Irish friend, Moses Wood, Esq. an agreeable and kind-hearted young gentleman, of a good temper. In the evening, attended by a free negro, I called with my several introductory letters to Messrs. Price, whom I saw; Krugg, Esq. gone to Kentucky; Jerry Wardour, out; Edward Wilson, at Baltimore; Joseph Lancaster, at Boston; his representative, Mr. Jones, present, and very attentive and polite. Such letters are of little value unless they come from one friend to another, both greatly esteeming each other, or the bearer has plenty of money. Letters of introduction, under other circumstances, will scarcely procure the stranger a gratuitous dinner. If poor, {94} he will be sent up the state by other letters, and passed from house to house and town to town, for work.

3d.—In the evening, on horseback, with Mr. Wood, Mr. Jones, &c. I took a delightful airing to German's Town, along the romantic banks of the Schuylkill to its falls.