Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/195

 emigrant, who with his lady and two elegant daughters, came to this western country and city in consequence of having read and credited Birkbeck's notes and letters, and having known and visited the Flower family in England. Mr. Lidiard was well known on 'Change; had a counting-house in London, and a house at Blackheath. When I first called upon him, he was from home. I left a message for him, saying, that an old countryman, {192} known to his friend Wardour of Philadelphia, had called, and was at the stage-house. On his return home to dinner he soon came down to me and said I should accompany him to pot-luck. I did so. The sight of an English face was mutually refreshing, and a sufficient introduction to each other. Mr. Lidiard scarcely knows what induced him to emigrate, having a fortune enabling himself and family to live in ease any where. "One thing, however, which weighed with me, was the probability of seeing my children well married in America. I must, however, complain much of American roguery. Hardly any body cares about poor honesty and punctuality. If a man can, or is disposed to pay, he pays; if not so disposed, or not able, he smiles, and tells you to your face, he shall not pay. I saw an execution defeated lately by that boasted spirit, which they call liberty, or independence. The property, under execution, was put up to sale, when the eldest son appeared with a huge Herculean club, and said, "Gentlemen, you may bid for and buy these bricks and things, which were my father's, but, by God, no man living shall come on to this ground with horse and cart to fetch them away. The land is mine, and if the buyer takes any thing away, it shall be on his back." The father had transferred the land, and all on it, to the son, in order to cheat the law. Nobody was, therefore, found to bid or buy. I, there