Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/74

 kindly left me introductory letters to two of his friends here, a physician and a counsellor, each in his profession, the most eminent man in the city.

26th.—Met my countryman, G. Beale Brown, Esq. of the respectable firm of Bainbridge and Brown, London, and gave him my introductory letter from England. Thought him a clever, smart, and efficient young gentleman, willing to further the interests of my mission. Walked several miles on a dusty, sandy road, under a scorching sun, in expectation of seeing and meeting his excellency, the President of the United States, who, this morning, made his public entry into this city. But he passed by me in the tumultuous crowd, quite unobserved. So many civil and military characters, more imposing in figure, quite eclipsed the supreme magistrate. We therefore returned as we went. By Mr. Bishop, introduced to two noble young fellows, Mr. Richmond of Philadelphia, and Mr. Dodge of Providence, who kindly pressed me to visit them in the north.

27th.—Promenaded round the city with Mr. Brown, who introduced me to F. Fleming, Esq., {45} and to the respectable firm of Messrs. Broadfoot and M'Neale.

28th.—After rising this morning, from my hot and feverish bed, I found, by the inflammatory eruptions on my hands, legs, and feet, that I had been stung by the mosquitoes, which, in New Orleans, are said to kill more men than the pestilence; as a remedy, I bathed the parts stung and swollen in brandy, and, at noon, took a warm bath. A leno net, fine as a lady's veil, surrounded my bed in future, and protected me from these midnight blood-thirsty assassins, which seldom annoyed me more.

May 1st.—A waggoner, on the day of the president's entry to this city, was commanded, by the military, to