Page:Journal of an Expedition 1794.djvu/11

Rh Here we found the people of the lower order very ignorant and illy informed, full of prejudice against our happy government, and very unfriendly to our cause. The more enlightened were all with us, as must be the case where reason governs.

22d. The troops rested here this day, myself confined to the house most of the day; in the afternoon Col. Rhea, who had been very polite, called on me to go and see a gentleman by the name of Mr. Rose, a most complete musician and plays on at least 10 different instruments; in addition to which he has a collection of curiosities for his own amusement, and some very excellent paintings.

He favored us, in company with his daughter, with some music on the piano forte, violin and an excellent organ. He treated us with great politeness, and is a good federalist. He very obligingly offered me his chaise to get on, but having procured a covered wagon I declined troubling him.

28d. The troops marched for Womelsdorf; town distant 14 miles, where we arrived before sunset, and encamped. The country begins to grow better; almost all of it inhabited by Germans, and in good cultivation; here we found the people divided as to the object of our march; the taverns poor, though not dear; there is a church and about houses.

24th. Marched for Lebenon, at which place we arrived at 10 o'clock, distance 14 miles. In this day's march, we passed through the finest country I have seen in our march. We begin to find blackwalnuts growing spontaneous. The country well cultivated; buildings good, and of stone, and mostly inhabited by Germans. We passed a small village of about 50 houses, called Major town, near the Tulpehockcn, on which is the famous canal for joining the Susquehanna and Schuylkill together. I was unable to go and see it, but many of the gentlemen did, and tell me it is a most grand undertaking; that the canal is already dug ten miles, in which are five locks, to embrace thirty feet; that they are executed in a masterly manner—that in the distance already done there is a great number of elegant arched bridges over the canal, wherever it goes across the road. There are now employed 600 hands at it, and every prospect of succeeding in this part of the bold enterprise, which if once accomplished, from this to the Schuylkill, and from thence to the Delaware, will turn such a torrent of wealth into Philadelphia, as will certainly secure it the emporium of America.

25th. This day the troops were ordered to make a forced march, and reach Harrisburg, distant 26 miles. Of course the line of march was taken up early, and by a little after 6 o'clock the troops were in motion. About 3 miles from Lebenon we passed the Quitapahilla, the branch by which the lock navigation is to be carried to the Susquehanna. It is a fine lively stream, but does not contain much water. On this day's march we found the inhabitants better informed and much more friendly to our cause. The country now becomes very fine, the land well cultivated, blackwalnut and