increasing empire. Thirty years ago, there were scarcely thirty thousand white inhabitants in the three new western states, Tenessee, Kentucky, and that of the Ohio; now they are estimated at four hundred thousand. Do not suppose that this wonderful augmentation arises from the natural increase of the first settlers, but a continued influx of new emigrants, who flock from all parts to this fertile region.

The river Monongahela rises in Virginia, at the foot of Laurel Mountain, which forms part of the chain of the Allegany, and receives some inferior rivers before it joins the Allegany; this latter river takes its source near lake Erie, and begins to be navigable two hundred miles from Pittsburgh. The dock-yards for building ships, give employment to many hands in the town, as well as some at Redstone and Lexington, which supply the cordage.

The time that I had appointed for our stay at Pittsburgh being elapsed, we set forward, with design to bend our course, by way of Northumberland, to New-York. The excessive heat over a mountainous road, prevented us from proceeding further than Greensburgh the first day, a town of about a hundred houses, standing on the summit of a hill. The country near it abounds so much with coal, that it is used for fuel in preference to wood, as being less expensive than cutting wood for the fire. Ligonier's Valley is a fertile tract,

producing

producing wheat, rye, and oats, for food; hemp and flax for clothing. Most of the women were at work at the spinning wheel or the loom: their families are supplied with lineu by their industry. We observed some wild plants of great beauty; particularly a species of azalea, with large white flowers, that grows to the height of twelve or fifteen feet. At the end of Ligonier's Valley we crossed Laurel Hill, probably so called from the numerous laurels and rhododendrons that cover it.

Some fried ham and deer's flesh, with a cake of maize bread, baked on a board before the fire, at Stanley Town, gave us fresh strength and spirits to ascend the Allegany Ridge, which is extremely steep, and rendered still more inconvenient by enormous stones, that are scattered about the road. We slept at Bedford. Unfortunately for us, it had been a public holiday, and the tavern was filled with people, in such a state of intoxication as to lie dead drunk about the rooms, on the stairs, and in the yard. From those who were able to speak, nothing was heard but a frightful uproar of riot or abuse. Arthur remarked, that a young man did not need a more striking picture of the hateful conse◄ quences of excess.

The people in the interior of the United States are too generally prone to the love of spirituous liquors, as a regale; for their common beverage, in summer, is water or sour milk.

'The

The banks of the Juncata, which we crossed in a ferry-boat, are high, and adorned with trees and flowering shrubs. The country people gather the green cones of the cucumber tree, and steep them in whisky, which they consider as a remedy for the ague.

Travelling over a hilly, stony country, we observed several scattered farm-houses, and some small towns, in our way to Shippensburgh. Labour is dear and hands scarce; so that a farmer, instead of considering a numerous family a burthen, finds the assistance of his children a source of wealth.

Shippensburgh is a small place, that trades principally in flour. We lodged at a tavern kept by a colonel; no uncommon case in America, where the distinctions of rank are not yet observed with the same exactness as in Europe.

A mountainous country, with few inhabitants, brought us to Carlisle, a tolerable town, having several stores that deal in mercery, haberdashery, grocery, and liquor. York is a well-built town, chiefly composed of brick-houses, and, like many other places in this part of the country, inhabited by Germans, who still speak their own language. At Columbia we were ferried over the Susque hannah: very high hills form the banks of this river, the middle of which is covered with small, woody islands, which appear to divide it into several branches. Some of these, though very small, are as high as the neighbouring hills, and being ir

regular

regular in their form, having a picturesque effect, which is improved by multitudes of wild-fowl that nestle in the isles, and hover about the river.

Early in the morning we reached Lancaster, the largest inland town in North America. The houses, which have two stories, are chiefly of brick or stone, with a broad stone pavement, and pumps placed at small distances before them; there are several wellbuilt churches, and an elegant sessions-house. It is computed to contain from four to five thousand inhabitants, nearly all of German extraction, but of different religions and occupations. Hatters, saddlers, coopers, and gunsmiths, are the most

numerous.

The gunsmiths are celebrated for rifles, the only kind of fire-arms used by the Indians and the people of the interior. In the town, as well as the neighbourhood, are a great many tan-yards, and mills for grinding corn; the flour is sent to Philadelphia in waggons. Lancaster is surrounded by verdant meadows, watered by a wheel, contrived to raise the water for that purpose. Near it limestones and slates are found, of a large size; and the neighbouring country is full of iron mines.

. Having an engagement upon my hands, I cannot enlarge further, than to assure you that I am

Your affectionate brother,

HENRY FRANKLIN.

LETTER

LETTER XXIV.

Arthur Middleton to his Sister Catherine.

New York.

MY DEAR GIRL

IT is so long since I have addressed myself to you, that Edwin cannot be jealous of this attention. Whilst we were at Lancaster, we took a ride to Ephrata, to see the establishment of the Dunkers, a religious society well known in America by their solitary mode of life. The men and women live apart, in houses that are without ornament. They wear a long gown, made in winter of grey cloth, and in summer of white linen, tied round the waist with a strap of leather: a long beard renders this dress still more venerable. They live in a plain, frugal manner, and sleep on a bench without a bed. The property of the whole community is shared equally by the members who belong to it. What the principles are that lead to these singularities, I could not learn. From Lancaster to May Town is a woody tract of country. Along the road we saw many German farms, which are known by small houses and large barns. Cows and oxen, with a few sheep, were grazing in the woods, or

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