Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/117

 He thinks his system and mode of farming must be best, but {98} he would do well to try it only on a small scale, and not rashly lay aside what is American, and well tried; for those who have long lived on the soil, must certainly know what is the best. In the state of Ohio, though so flourishing, there are none born in it who are 20 years old. It is of no use travelling down rivers to see and know countries, or get information about them; you must ride through them to and fro, and often stop. There recently came, in one of my ships, an English bricklayer, wife, and family, but their unfitness for this land was quite ludicrous. They thought they were to be nobles here, although sent from your country by their parish officers. And then, who would ever have thought of seeing librarians from Bond Street come here, to start circulating libraries, in the wilderness of Illinois. Your friend John Ingle, however, now in Indiana, is a good fit fellow, knowing what he is about."

6th.—At noon I left the good city of William Penn. I am now swiftly gliding down the Delaware in a superb steam-boat, 60 yards long, 14 broad, with 36 beds for gentlemen, and 20 for ladies, all in the cabin; moving from 10 to 12 miles an hour.

At six, p. m., we quitted the boat and river, and entered three coaches, which conveyed us through Newcastle, 40 miles to French-town, on the Chesapeake bay; where another huge boat received us to supper and bed, en masse. It landed us to {99} breakfast at the city of Baltimore, 120 miles in 12 hours; fare six dollars.

7th.—In this city, put up at Gadsby's hotel (the best) containing 150 beds, fine warm and cold baths, and a well stored reading-room, with files of all domestic and foreign papers. Here I saw my letter on negro-killing, copied into