[1] The number of passages to America already published might, in the
opinion of some, be a reason for suppressing this; it is hoped however,
that it will not be found altogether useless or uninteresting.--WELBY.
[2] The Ship had grounded upon the Margate Sands; always dangerous,
owing to their constantly shifting with the tide: just before our own
misfortune, we had seen an homeward-bound East Indiaman aground and
lightening her cargo into small craft.--WELBY.
[3] _Cobbing_ is a punishment inflicted by tying the culprit to the
windlass, when each man in turn gives him two or three blows with the
flat side of the carpenter's saw.--WELBY.
[4] Let me here caution any passenger against offering money to a
custom-house officer on this side the water; they are well paid, and do
not take money, as in other countries, to betray the interests of the
government, that they may live.--WELBY.
[5] The charge here, at any one of the City taverns, for cleaning a pair
of boots, is a quarter dollar (13-1/2 d. of our money).--WELBY.
[6] Mr. Fearon's.--WELBY.
For a brief note on Fearon, see Flint's _Letters_, volume ix of our
series, note 119.--ED.
[7] I have since seen beggars.--WELBY.
[8] An account of Joseph Bonaparte's career in America will be found in
volume xi of our series, note 36.--ED.
[9] It was burned down, it is supposed by incendiaries, the following
winter, and many valuable pictures and much furniture and papers
lost.--WELBY.
[10] Franklin did not present a library to Philadelphia, but he is
properly regarded as the founder of the Philadelphia Library, which he
called "the _mother_ of all the North American subscription libraries."
Conceiving the idea of establishing such an institution, he drew up a
plan (1731), and solicited subscriptions among his friends. By March
following, twenty-five persons had paid their subscription of forty
shillings each, and an order was sent to England for books. Franklin
continued to take an active interest in the enterprise, aiding in
selecting books, and from time to time donating volumes. The
Philadelphia Library now occupies two large buildings, and contains over
190,000 volumes.--ED.
[11] In his will Franklin left £2,000 (still due him for his salary as
president of Pennsylvania) for the improvement of the Schuylkill River.
Learning that that work of improvement was likely to be delayed, he made
a codicil revoking the bequest to the Schuylkill improvement, and
devoting it to a scheme of continuous benevolence--£1,000 each were
given to Boston and to Philadelphia; under the direction of a certain
board of selectmen, small sums (not exceeding £60), were to be loaned to
young married artificers at five per cent interest. He estimated that in
a hundred years the principal would be vastly increased, and the greater
part was then to be devoted to public works. However, many borrowers
were unable to repay, and their security proving worthless, the sum at
the end of the first century was far below Franklin's expectation.--ED.
[12] The cent is about the value of one half-penny; one hundred is four
shillings and sixpence sterling.--WELBY.
[13] The traveller's route westward was by way of the Lancaster Turnpike
and the Pennsylvania Road, through Bedford and Greensburg to Pittsburg.
For this route, see Harris's _Journal_, volume iii of our series, note
3.--ED.
[14] Cove Mountain forms the western boundary of Franklin County. The
road crosses it about fifteen miles west of Chambersburg. Scrub Ridge
lies parallel to Cove Mountain, a few miles to the west.--ED.
[15] For Bloody Run, see Cuming's _Tour_, in our volume iv, note 18. It
is now Everett, Bedford County. The battle was not with the natives, but
between a band of enraged frontiersmen and a party of Indian traders who
were illegally supplying the savages with firearms.--ED.
[16] For the early history of Greensburg and Pittsburg, see volume iii
of our series: F. A. Michaux's _Travels_, note 16; A. Michaux's
_Travels_, note 11.--ED.
[17] A brief account of the founding of Washington and Canonsburg
(Jefferson) College may be found in Harris's _Journal_, volume iii of
our series, note 31.--ED.
[18] In 1816 and the years immediately following occurred what is
locally known as the "college war." Reverend Matthew Brown, pastor of
the first Presbyterian church at Washington, who had been president of
Washington College since its incorporation (1806), was asked to resign,
and Reverend Andrew Wylie was called from the presidency of Canonsburg
College to succeed him. Much bitter feeling was aroused, to the great
injury of both institutions.--ED.
[19] For the early history of the National Road, see Harris's _Journal_,
note 45; and for its extension beyond Wheeling, see Woods's _English
Prairie_, in volume x of our series, note 76.--ED.
[20] I have often been called upon to pay a dollar for passing over a
bridge.--_Welby._
[21] The Lancasterian Academy was founded at Wheeling by the bequest of
Noah Linsly, formerly a tutor at Williams College. It received its
charter in 1814, and is said to have been the first chartered school in
a slave state granting free education to the poor. The name was derived
from the Lancasterian system of education, founded by Joseph Lancaster.
See our volume xi. The institution is now called Linsly Institute.--ED.
[22] Mr. Fearon says the state of Ohio is one continued level, he must
mean that part of it about Cincinnati; the chief part of the state is
exceedingly hilly.--WELBY.
_Comment by Ed._ Ohio is hilly only in the southeastern portion, the
part traversed by Welby. He travelled along the State Road, which
followed the old Zane's Trace through St. Clairsville, Zanesville, and
Chillicothe to Maysville, Kentucky.
[23] The Dunkards, or German Baptists, began to come to America about
1719, joining with the Mennonites in Germantown, Pennsylvania. In
general, their belief was like that of the Quakers, save that they
observed the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper. A sect
separated from the main body, and established a monastery at Ephrata,
Lancaster County. A considerable number emigrated into western
Pennsylvania and the Shenandoah Valley.--ED.
[24] For the early history of Chillicothe, see F. A. Michaux's
_Travels_, volume iii of our series, note 35.--ED.
[25] For a sketch of the founding of West Union, see Hulme's _Journal_,
volume x of our series, note 39. Concerning Bainbridge, consult Faux's
_Journal, ante_, note 109.--ED.
[26] This was probably the common poison ivy (_Rhus
toxicodendron_).--ED.
[27] From another party which passed, I learned that the well-known
Colonel Boon is still alive in the Missourie country; though the
journals lately gave a circumstantial account of his death.--WELBY.
_Comment by Ed._ Boone died September 26, 1820.
[28] This was the last important Indian cession in Ohio. September 29,
1817, the Wyandot, Seneca, Delaware, Shawnee, Potawatomi, Ottawa, and
Chippewa ceded a large tract bounded on the east by the previous treaty
line--namely, a line drawn south from a point a few miles east of the
head of Sandusky Bay, and on the south by the old Greenville treaty line
(see Evans's _Tour_, in our volume viii, note 51), and the St. Mary's
River.--ED.
[29] For the early history of Blue Licks, see Cuming's _Tour_, in our
volume iv, note 117.--ED.
[30] For a brief account of Lexington, see A. Michaux's _Travels_,
volume iii of our series, note 28.--ED.
[31] An account of the early history of Transylvania University has been
given in our volume iv, note 126.--ED.
[32] There are two good family taverns however, one the Indian Queen; of
the other I forget the sign.--WELBY.
[33] For a brief note on Frankfort, see F. A. Michaux's _Travels_,
volume iii of our series, note 39.
This was probably Colonel Richard Taylor, father of General Zachary
Taylor. He was born in Virginia in 1744, and served throughout the
Revolutionary War. Removing to the Falls of the Ohio (1781), he was a
member of the conventions which formed the first and second
constitutions of Kentucky, and was often a member of its legislature. He
died in 1826.--ED.
[34] For information concerning the early history of Louisville, consult
Croghan's _Journals_, volume i of our series, note 106.--ED.
[35] For the information of future travellers, Allen's quiet part of the
hotel is down the street turning the corner of his house.--WELBY.
[36] A brief account of New Albany may be found in Hulme's _Journal_,
volume x of our series, note 15.--ED.
[37] Paoli, about forty miles northwest of New Albany, is the seat of
Orange County; it was laid out in 1816 by a territorial commission, and
the first frame building erected in that year. Hindostan has passed out
of existence; see Faux's _Journal_, volume xi of our series, note 68.
Washington proved to be the most advantageously located. See _ibid._,
note 69.--ED.
[38] Vincennes is not as old as Philadelphia, having been founded in
1727. Consult Croghan's _Journals_, volume i of our series, note
113.--_Ed._
[39] Upon resigning his commission in the army (1814), General Harrison
settled upon a farm at North Bend, Ohio.--ED.
[39*] Mr. Birkbeck's letters from the Illinois.--WELBY.
[40] Hulme's _Journal_ has been reprinted in volume x of our
series.--ED.
[41] The reader may suppose that corn might be grown at the English
Prairie as cheap as at Harmony; _why_ it cannot will clearly appear in
the account of this Colony.--WELBY.
[42] For the location of Bonpas Creek, see Flower's _Letters_, in our
volume x, note 2; Shawneetown, Croghan's _Journals_, in our volume i,
note 108.--ED.
[43] A relation of Mr. Flower's shot a bear during my stay.--WELBY.
[44] A brief account of the early settlement of Princeton may be found
in Hulme's _Journal_, volume x of our series, note 17.--ED.
[45] On returning to Philadelphia, and stating how I had disposed of the
baggage I was greeted with grins and smiles; one said he would not give
fifty dollars for my chance, another offered ten, and in short I found
that no _smart fellow_ thought of trusting another in America; and that
he who should think himself safe under the pledge of honour or honesty
was considered a fiat and deserving to be taken in! At Vincennes I had
yet to learn this at the expense of at least a thousand dollars.--WELBY.
[46] This depreciation will appear nothing when compared with the
following. Towards the close of the struggle for independence a Mr.
S***** travelled westward in order to collect some out-standing debts;
after receiving which in notes and on his road home, he actually paid
within sixteen miles of Philadelphia, three hundred dollars for a
breakfast, and even this bargain he would not have been able to make, he
found on his return, to that city!--The government have never been able
to enter into any arrangements to redeem these notes.--WELBY.
[47] I added to the diet, strong gruel of Indian corn meal, or wheat
flour, which enabled them to travel.--WELBY.
[48] A short sketch of Major Spriggs will be found in Faux's _Journal_,
_ante_, note 113.--ED.
[49] It was in the beginning of November when I crossed the Ohio near
Louisville; at that time a fine new steam vessel, of I believe two
hundred and fifty tons burthen, was waiting the rise of the water. What
a daily loss this detainer must have been to the proprietors! Many
people were staying at Louisville in order to go passengers by her to
New Orleans, a journey of between fifteen hundred and two thousand
miles, which was to be performed in six days independent of wind: to get
back it would require three or four weeks. This vessel was to convey the
western mail to New Orleans--the accommodations in every respect were
excellent and the whole interior was fitted up in the most complete
manner; the price to New Orleans for each passenger was, I understood,
forty dollars.--WELBY.
_Comment by Ed._ The first steamboat mail to New Orleans was carried in
this year by Captain Shreve upon his boat, named in honor of the
occasion, "Post-Boy."
[50] Plans for a canal around the Falls of the Ohio (Louisville), were
projected early in the nineteenth century. The Ohio Canal Company was
incorporated in 1809-10, Congress and the Kentucky legislature
conditionally subscribing for shares of its stock, but nothing was
accomplished. About ten years later the Jeffersonville Ohio Canal
Company was organized to build the canal around the Indiana side of the
falls. Construction was begun, but again the project fell through.
Finally the Louisville-Portland canal was commenced in 1825 and
completed in 1830, Congress having assisted to the extent of 2,335
shares of stock. This canal soon proved inadequate, and in 1872 it was
surrendered to the national government. An enlargement was immediately
undertaken, being completed in 1881.--ED.
[51] Another intention by raising the waters of the Schuylkill is, I
understood, to supply Philadelphia with its water.--WELBY.
[52] This year fine new cyder was plentiful in Ohio State, at a dollar a
barrel of thirty gallons.--WELBY.
[53] For the early history of Washington and Brownsville, see our volume
iii; F. A. Michaux's _Travels_, note 23; Harris's _Journal_, note
32.--ED.
[54] A short sketch of Uniontown and Fort Cumberland may be found in
Harris's _Journal_, volume iii of our series, notes 47, 49.--ED.
[55] For a brief account of Fredericktown, see A. Michaux's _Travels_,
in our volume iii, note 70.--ED.
[56] The British forces under Major-General Ross landed at North Point,
at the mouth of the Patapsco, twelve miles from the city. Proceeding
along the North Point Road to Baltimore (September 12, 1814), they had
marched about four miles when their advance was checked by the American
forces under General Stricker. A sharp engagement followed, in which
Ross was killed, but the American troops were forced to fall back
towards Baltimore.
The battle monument, situated on Monument Square, was begun in 1815 and
completed ten years later. It is not a national memorial, but was
erected by the citizens of Baltimore. In 1839 Baltimore dedicated a
second monument on the North Point battle-ground.--ED.
[57] Some farmers, on this account, feed their cattle with corn, and
thus putting it upon legs send them to the Eastern markets; we met many
large droves of these cattle.--WELBY.
[58] In the Middle and Southern states the ruffed grouse (_Bonasa
umbella_) is called a pheasant. The English pheasant (_Phasianus
colchicus_) does not exist in the United States. Similarly, the American
partridge is entirely different from the English, being the bob white or
quail (_Ortyx virginiana_).--ED.
[59] George Louis Buffon (1707-1788) was a noted French naturalist, and
for many years was intendant to the royal gardens. Abbé Raynal
(1713-1793) published (1770) _Histoire philosophique et politique des
établissements et du commerce des Européens dans les deux Indes_.--ED.
[60] I believe the Quakers are entitled to the chief merit of promoting
these charitable institutions, and I have before been silent where I
should have given them the meed of praise.--WELBY.
[61] The Philadelphia _Aurora_ was established in 1790 by Benjamin
Franklin Bache. After his death (1798) it was edited by William Duane.
It was strongly anti-federal, and exerted its greatest influence between
the years 1800-1820.--ED.
[62] Reflections upon the Nature and tendency of the present Spirit of
the Times. By Rev. George Burges, B.A. 1820.--WELBY.
[63] The execution of the above sentence took place accordingly.--WELBY.
[64] This was Admiral Decatur. See Faux's _Journal_, _ante_, note
140.--ED.
[65] The University of Pennsylvania dates its history from the
establishment of Franklin's academy in 1740. See Montgomery, _History of
the University of Pennsylvania from its Foundation to A.D. 1770_
(Philadelphia, 1902).--ED.
[66] Not long ago signs were very generally used by other trades than
those of Publicans, and even now there are a few who hang them
out,--Tavern signs are many of them executed in a superior manner; it is
the chief encouragement given to the Arts.--WELBY.
[67] Thomas Holcroft (1744-1809) a well-known British dramatist and
translator.--ED.
[68] Their other national air "Hail Columbia," is intitled to more
respect.--WELBY.
[69] I am informed that it is not an uncommon practice to sell the
negroes at auction, by the lb. weight.--WELBY.
[70] The skins of the goats by some speedy process had been converted
into morocco leather and were exhibited.--WELBY.
[71] The Library is lately renewed; the former one was burnt by us in
the late war, for which deed we have obtained perhaps justly the
appellation of "Modern Goths."--WELBY.
[72] Mr. Sheed of the United States Navy.--WELBY.