Travels in the United States of America Commencing in the Year 1793, and Ending in 1797 | Page 6

very sincerely, &c.
_Philadelphia, 27th February, 1794._
DEAR FRIEND,
On the fourth instant I left Annapolis on my way to this city. After
travelling eight miles, we passed through a long and dreary wood; here
we met two negroes conveying a coffin on a sort of sledge. On inquiry,
one of them informed us, the coffin contained the corpse of his mother;
that on the death of his old master, his parents were sold to different
planters, which his father took so much to heart, that he died soon after;
his mother only survived him about five months; and they were now
complying with her last request, which was, to be carried to a
plantation about eight miles thence, and there buried with her husband.
There seemed a great degree of dejection in the poor fellow's
countenance; and I could not help telling him, by way of consolation,
that his father and mother were gone to a better place, where there was
no distinction of colour, and where no white man would dare again to
part them; but as words are _wind_, we agreed to administer some
more solid consolation, which the black man received with a look of
gratitude, then cast his eye towards his mother's corpse, and shed a
silent tear. Why was not Sterne present at this scene?
I slept at an inn, about twenty miles from Annapolis, where we supped
in the American fashion on fried squirrels and coffee, the former
excellent.
_Feb. 5th_.--Arrived at Baltimore, and hired a caravan with four horses,
which is here called a stage: the same afternoon we arrived at the
Susquana. This noble river, which is here about a mile and a quarter
wide, was frozen hard. Our advanced guard crossed the day before, in a
ferry boat: this circumstance will give you some idea of the severity of
the cold in this climate. A negro slave, belonging to the ferry,
undertook to drive our stage over the river for two dollars, which his

_master put into his pocket_, and ordered Sambo to proceed; the fellow
drove boldly, and was across in a few minutes, the ice cracking most
horribly all the way. I suppose I need not inform you, we were not in
the carriage.
On the evening of the 7th we slept at Wilmington, a pleasantly situate
town on the banks of a creek, which joins the Delaware, about thirty
miles below Philadelphia. There are about thirty square-rigged vessels,
beside sloops, and schooners, belonging to this port, which was
originally a danish settlement.
The next morning I walked to Brandywine, to see the grist mills, which
are said to be the best in the United States. About five miles from this
village was fought the battle of Brandywine. This was Washington's
last effort to stop general Howe's progress, and save Philadelphia. The
royal army being victorious, they got possession of that city without
opposition. General Washington, after rallying his troops, took a very
advantageous situation on a chain of hills, a few miles west of the
British army.
We dined at Chester. This little town is situated on the Delaware, and is
the same to Philadelphia that Gravesend is to London. Ships outward
bound here receive their passengers, &c. &c.
At four the same day, arrived in this city, distant from Annapolis one
hundred and forty one miles, and from Baltimore one hundred and
eleven. Farewell.
Yours, &c.
* * * * *
_Philadelphia, March 1st, 1794._
DEAR SIR,
I perfectly agree with you, that the form of government in a great
measure _affects_, or rather forms the manners, and way of thinking of

the people; but must decline answering the queries in your last, at least
for the present. I have not been long enough in these states to draw any
fair conclusions on these subjects; but that you may not be wholly
disappointed, I send you two anecdotes, on which you may depend.
Peter Brown, a blacksmith of this city, having made his fortune, set up
his coach; but so far from being ashamed of the means by which he
acquired his riches, he caused a large anvil to be painted on each pannel
of his carriage, with two naked arms in the act of striking. The motto,
"By this I got ye."
Benjamin Whitall, high sheriff for the county of Gloster, West Jersey,
being obliged soon after his appointment to attend an execution, not
approving of Jack Ketch's clumsy method of _finishing the law_, fairly
tucked up the next criminal himself. Such behaviour in Germany would
have branded him with eternal infamy, but is in this country (I think
justly) thought a spirited action of a man, who was above receiving the
emoluments of an office, without performing the most essential duty
annexed to it himself.
I