Got up a little before six, a fine morning. Left in the People's line of
Packet at seven. Paid for breakfast ticket 50 cents, also to Princeton
150 cents. Most of the houses on Staten Island are built by fishermen
who take large quantities of oysters. The grass is cut and placed upon
stakes to prevent it being washed or blown away, as it cannot be carted
away till frost comes.
Met with a gentleman, Lieutenant Higby, on the steamer returning from
Charleston who showed me great attention, also presented me with a stick
of orange wood. On leaving the steamer the road was so steep that but
for an elderly lady who seemed so composed I should have been
frightened. On the road, a field or two was cleared, the rest was
forest, till on reaching Princeton the farms appeared larger. Here I
engaged a gig for 150 cents. Curious sound occasioned by locusts, 17
years since their last visit. Saw a beautiful white cottage which proved
to be the residence of our friend W. B.; found all well. W. was quite
astonished to see me and threw his head upon my shoulders. Mrs. B.
greatly surprised, also Jonathan whom we found in the fields. On going
to the door I saw the driver had tumbled down the bag and portmanteau,
and set off without asking for anything for himself or the turnpike
gate. Walked about in the garden, then took some coffee and lettuce.
Walked round the farm about 150 acres which cost him about 7 guineas an
acre. The soil good and well cultivated with rye, oats, maize, and
bounded on one side by a good road leading to Trenton, and the remainder
by a beautiful stream; also good spring water in most of the fields. The
estate is beautifully varied by gentle elevations; never troubled by
mosquitoes; most of the snakes have been destroyed. They have five
horses, 7 cows, 30 pigs, 100 poultry besides pigeons, etc. Very glad to
find the B.'s so comfortably settled and steadily applying themselves to
the improvement of the farm; very careful, exceedingly diligent, rising
at four and working till eight, doing all the carpenter's work,
butchering, etc. Stopt up till after eleven talking over old matters,
etc.