Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/265

 It is the intention of these families to plough the land two years, and then turn it into English pasture, a portion every year. Mrs. G. Flower, while in Virginia, kissed a beautiful black babe before the owner, a lady, who felt great disgust and indignation at the act.—"Oh, take it away!"

Mr. Flower intends to form a society for freeing blacks, and employing free blacks. It is to be on the Harmony plan. He promises me the plan when matured. He thinks that 100l. in France is equal to 300l. in England for the support of a {277} family, and in the former all is kindness, pleasure, and peace. He visited the Marquis de la Fayette, whose income is very small. By him he was furnished with a letter to the Hon. Thomas Jefferson, with whom he spent many happy days. This great philosopher and statesman, during the last 30 years, has been always up with the sun, noting down at sunrise the state of the mercury. He lives splendidly, in French style, on the top of the beautiful mountain Montecello, with his grandchildren and son-in-law, Mr. Randolph (not the orator). His last days are spent in writing incessantly a work for posterity. His patrimony is fast wasting, as it is in the slave states generally.

The hunters, or Illinois Rowdies, as they are called, are rather troublesome. They come rudely with their hats on into the parlour, and, when drunk, threaten Mr. Flower's life; but they are great cowards; firmness and a fearless resolution are necessary in dealing with them. One of a large offended party came drunk to Mr. Flower's house, and said, he would enter and shoot him. Mr. Flower got his rifle and pointed it at the fellow, on which he rushed up and put his mouth madly to the muzzle, and said, "Fire." Mr. F. then laid it down, seeing the effect