Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/277

 endeavour to give a faithful account of what I heard.[93] The Flowers charge Mr. B. with an intention of driving their family out of Illinois, and of deceiving the public generally, in the hope of monopolizing all the prairies to himself, so that he might sell, at what advanced price he pleased, to such of his countrymen as came hither, induced by his tempting publications. The second letter of that volume is to Mr. Flower, sen. Wishing to visit {291} America, to relieve himself from domestic unhappiness, Mr. G. Flower was the precursor of Mr. Birkbeck, who then was opposed to emigration, but who, soon after Flower's departure, suddenly changing his opinion, determined on his present measure, and wrote to G. Flower to that effect, who was so much pleased with the country, that he bought land in Virginia, intending to settle on it, if he could induce his family to follow. Mr. Birkbeck now met the Flower family, to persuade them to emigrate with him to their son George Flower, and make one property and share all things in common, a measure too Utopian for Mr. Flower, sen. to approve. Mr. Birkbeck then reproached Mr. Flower with croaking; and the emigration of the Flower family was deferred, while Mr. Birkbeck prepared for his departure. The Miss Birkbecks seeing a young lady at Mr. Flower's, Miss Andrews, wished her to accompany them to America, a measure to which the father objected, but soon afterwards consented, and away they sailed to Norfolk, in Virginia, where they were met by George Flower, who agreed to accompany them westward. Miss Andrews and George Flower, unknown to Birkbeck, were agreeing to marry; and on arriv-*