Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 3).djvu/317



long laboured under wasting sickness, which obliged me for a time to relinquish the duties of my ministry; my mind, naturally feeble and timid, sunk under its depressions and yielded to despondency. To divert its attention, by directing its regards to objects remote from its corroding cares, and to benefit my bodily health by means of exercise and change of climate, my physicians urged my taking a journey.

esteemed neighbour, Mr., was about making an excursion into the, and proposed my accompanying him thither. My brother in law, Mr., kindly offered to be my attendant, and assisted me in summoning resolution for the undertaking.

the 29th of March, 1803, we set out on the tour. We took the post road from Boston, through New-York and Philadelphia, to Lancaster; and thence, through Carlisle and Shippensburgh, to Strasburgh at the foot of the {vi} Alleghany Mountains. Here commence the extracts from my journal.

the gratification of my family and a few friends, I kept a record of the occurrences each day afforded, and some particulars of the several towns through which we passed. I was advised, on my return, to communicate the Geographical articles to the public; and I have consented, from a willingness to contribute my mite, however insignificant, to the common stock of the topographical knowledge of our country.