We came but 9 or 10 miles to day, & are now near the 6^{th} Mountain- in
a tavern fill'd with half drunken noisy waggoners-- One of them lies
singing directly before the fire; proposing just now to call for a song
from the young ladies---- I can neither think nor write he makes so much
noise with his _love songs_; I am every moment expecting something
dreadful & dare not lay down my pen lest they should think me listening
to them- They are the very worst wretches that ever liv'd, I do
believe,--I am out of all patience with them- The whole world nor any
thing in it, would tempt me to stay in this State three months- I
dislike everything belonging to it--I am not so foolish as to suppose
there are no better people in it than those we have seen; but let them
be ever so good, I never desire to see any of them----We overtook an old
waggoner whose waggon had got set in the mud, & I never heard a creature
swear so- & whipt his horses till I thought they would die--I could not
but wonder at the patience and forbearance of the Almighty, whose awful
name was so blasphem'd-- We also overtook a young _Doctor_-who is going
with his father to Mad river in the state of Ohio---- He has been
studying physic in New Jersey,- but appears to be an uneducated man from
the language he makes use of----I believe both himself & his father are
very clever- I heard them reproving a swearer-- He dresses smart, & was
so polite as to assist us in getting over the mud-- Susan & I walk'd on
before the waggon as usual, & he overtook us and invited us into the
house & call'd for some brandy sling- we did not drink, which he
appear'd not to like very well, & has scarcely spoken to us since---- He
thinks himself a gentleman of the _first chop_, & takes the liberty of
coining words for himself- Speaking of the people in this state, he said
they were very ignorant & very _superstitionary_ --perhaps you have
heard the word before- I never did--
Sunday morn- We had good beds last night, contrary to my expectation,-
and we are going on our journey this morning- It is extremely cold &
very bad riding or walking- M^r W- has been so long detain'd by bad
weather & riding, that he thinks himself justifiable in riding on the
sabbath- I thought so some time ago--
Sunday noon- We are on the top of Laurel Hill, the 6^{th} mountain-- We
women & girls, have walk'd between 5 & 6 miles this morning-- We left
the waggons getting along very slowly, & came on to a house to warm us-
It is a log hut & full of children, as is every one we come to-- The
wind whistles about us, & it looks very much like snow---- One waggon
got set this morning, & hinder'd us this long time-- The young Doctor &
his father are still in company with us-- The former, who has got over
his pouting fit, leaves his father to drive,- while he walks on with the
ladies- he is not with us just now-- He has not conquer'd the antipathy
I bear a young physician-- or rather a _young Doctor_-- How little it
seems like the sabbath-- I would not write if I could do any thing
else-- but I can not even think good thoughts----